Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Jan. 8, 2024
Dear Brandeis Community,
We are honored to announce our celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. According to Britannica, “Beginning in 1970, a number of states and cities made his birthday, January 15, a holiday. Although legislation for a federal holiday was introduced in Congress as early as 1968, there was sufficient opposition, on racial and political grounds, to block its passage. In 1983, legislation making the third Monday in January a federal holiday finally was passed, and the first nationwide observance occurred in 1986. The day is usually celebrated with marches and parades and with speeches by civil rights and political leaders.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. started his exploration for justice in his community. With the support of his wife, Coretta Scott King, he embarked on a journey of care about the plight of people all over the world. He, and many others inspired by him, fought for civil rights for Black people and other marginalized communities. Though he was taken from the world too soon in a violent act, his legacy embodies community, and his words and dreams are alive with us today. We can apply them and determine how they resonate with our lives.
This year, our celebration theme, Continuing the March: Celebrating 60 Years of the March on Washington, recognizes the political demonstration held in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. “It is estimated that 250,000 people gathered to protest racial discrimination and show support for major civil rights legislation that was pending in Congress.” according to Britannica. Join us in our celebration as we reflect upon our personal journeys and our Brandeis values of justice and inclusion with campus and community partners.
Continuing the March: Celebrating 60 Years of the March on Washington
Date: Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024
Location: Sherman Function Hall
Please visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. website for more program information.
In addition, our university archives and additional resources offer insight into Brandeis University’s special connection with Dr. King, so please explore the following:
- When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Brandeis - Justice without Violence lecture – April 3, 1957
- Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.’s visits to Brandeis
Dr. King made three visits to Brandeis in 1956, 1957 and 1963 which are documented in the Lynn Goldsmith Papers: The Diary and Papers of a Young Civil Rights Worker – Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections. We are also proud of our Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellowship Program which highlights scholarship and community service.
We look forward to seeing you at our events this year.
In Community,
Monique Pillow Gnanaratnam
Dean of Students
Lee Bitsóí
Vice President, Diversity Equity, and Inclusion