The 44th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration at Michigan State University starts Jan. 12, with events through Jan. 19. MSU students, faculty, staff and the local community are invited to join in the weeklong celebration highlighting and honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King.

This year’s theme is “Courageous Leadership & an Unwavering Commitment to Civil Rights, Equity & Social Justice.” The celebration also marks the 70th and 60th landmark anniversaries of Brown v. Board of Education and the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibited discrimination and ended school segregation, recognized via MSU’s Project 70/60.

The annual MLK celebration is also an opportunity for the MSU community to celebrate our legacy of advancing civil rights on campus, engage with the campus community and highlight ways our community can support historically underrepresented students, faculty and staff.

The MLK Planning Committee, with representation from across the MSU community and support from the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, coordinates a diverse range of events. This year’s lineup includes the following events:

• The 2024 MLK Commemorative March: Monday, Jan. 15, starting at 9 a.m. The march will begin at Beaumont Tower and will conclude across the street from the site of the MSU Multicultural Center.
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Dinner: Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 5:30 p.m. The 44th annual dinner will occur at the Kellogg Center Hotel and Conference Center, featuring 1855 Professor Blaire Morseau. Registration is required – seats are limited.
• Toward Freedom Film Series: This weeklong event is presented by MSU Libraries and WKAR Public Media, featuring films that speak on perseverance through adversity.
• Stuff the Library Book Drive: This annual drive, supporting Grand Rapids Public Schools this year, works to fill a school district’s libraries with books on topics of social justice and characters from diverse backgrounds. Learn how you can donate.

The MLK Planning Committee worked with MSU Libraries, the MLK Commemorative Student Committee and WKAR on this year's MLK Commemorative Celebration.