In honor of Martin Luther King Day, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will hold a celebration comprised of events designed to commemorate the ideas and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The highlight of the celebration will be the 30th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lecture on Jan. 19, 2011 given by CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O'Brien.
O’Brien contributes in-depth stories about major news and is on CNN’s “Best Political Team on Television. She has reported for “CNN Presents: Black in America,” on the state of black America 40 years after King’s assassination. She also anchored and reported the documentary “CNN: Special Investigations Unit” that looked at King’s private writings, notes and teachings.
Those attending the free public lecture, at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall, 140 E. Cameron Ave., must pick up free tickets in advance at the Memorial box office. Tickets will be distributed first to UNC students, who must bring UNC One Cards and to others starting Thursday (Jan. 13). For ticket information, call the box office, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, at (919) 843-3333.
UNC’s 28th annual MLK Scholarships, which are given to students exemplifying King’s vision and commitment to civil and human rights, will also be presented at the lecture. A candlelight vigil will be held at 6:15 p.m. at the Campus Y Faculty Lounge before the lecture as a time to reflect on King's messages. According to the Web site, "The vigil is a time for reflection on Dr. King’s inspirational messages as monologues demonstrate the relevance of Dr. King’s messages. Victory Praise dance team will embody Dr. King’s strength through powerful movement."
The current schedule includes:
Monday, January 17 | Federal Holiday Observance
• Day for Service and MLK Youth Leadership Program
• Unity Dinner | 5 p.m., Great Hall | Register by sending e-mail yo mlkunitydinner@gmail.com
• He Was a Poem, He Was a Song | 7 p.m., Stone Center Hitchcock Room
Tuesday, January 18
• Annual MLK Oratorical Contest | 6 p.m., Stone Center Auditorium
Wednesday, January 19
• Candlelight Vigil | 6:15 p.m., Campus Y, Faculty Lounge
• 30th Annual MLK Lecture: Soledad O’Brien | 7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, ticket required
FREE reserved-seat tickets available from the Memorial Hall Box Office (919) 843-3333.
Thursday, January 20
• Lessons from Little Rock | 5 p.m., Student Union Auditorium
• MLK Today: Aid and Development in Central and East Africa | 7 p.m., FedEx Global Education Center, Nelson Mandela Auditorium
Friday, January 21
• “I, Too, Sing America” | 6:30 p.m., Student Union Great Hall
For a full schedule and more details on the weeklong celebration, visit: http://www.unc.edu/diversity/mlk/index.htm or call the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at (919) 962-6962.
