Celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is “a day of interracial and intercultural cooperation and sharing. No other day of the year brings so many peoples from different cultural backgrounds together in such a vibrant spirit of brother and sisterhood. Whether you are African-American, Hispanic or Native American, whether you are Caucasian or Asian-American, you are part of the great dream Martin Luther King, Jr. had for America. This is not a black holiday; it is a peoples’ holiday. And it is the young people of all races and religions who hold the keys to the fulfillment of his dream.”

– Coretta Scott King

UF will host a campus-wide celebration, including educational programs and service initiatives, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. nearly 50 years after his tragic assassination.

As part of the series of events, the UF African American Studies Program will welcome University of Kentucky Professor Gerald Smith to speak at the Bob Graham Center on Jan. 25. Smith is a professor of African American and Africana Studies and the co-editor of The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Volume VI: Advocate of the Social Gospel, which documents the life of America’s best-known advocate for peace and justice. Learn more.

All other events, including the MLK Vigil and kickoff on Jan. 11 and the MLK Day of Service on Jan. 15, can be found here.

All MLK Celebration events are open to UF students, faculty, staff and the Gainesville community.