Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation 2025
Freedom Intersections
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister, activist and political philosopher, was one of the most influential and celebrated civil rights leaders in U.S. history. Before his April 4, 1968, murder in Memphis, King became the youngest man to win the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 35. His iconicĢż and hisĢż continue to resonate across multiple generations today.
āFreedom intersections,ā the theme of the 2025 convocation, will guide a community exploration of how global power dynamics and solidarity have intersected over the decades to propel current and past freedom movements, including the U.S. civil rights movement.
Participants will also be invited to consider the following excerpt from Dr. Kingās āLetter from a Birmingham Jailā within the present-day context: āInjustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.ā
Isabel Wilkerson
Isabel Wilkerson (photo by Leslie Andrews)
Isabel Wilkerson is the author of the bestsellers āā and ā.ā She won a Pulitzer Prize in 1994, becoming the first Black woman to earn the accolade for feature writing and individual reporting.
In 2016, former President Barack Obama awarded Wilkerson the National Humanities Medal for "championing the stories of an unsung history."
āThe Warmth of Other Sunsā won the National Book Critics Circle Award.ĢżMore than 30 publications listed the book among its best of the year, including theĢżLos Angeles Times,ĢżThe Washington Post, andĢżThe New York Times, which also named the book one of the 100 best books of the 21st century. In 2020,ĢżTime magazine named āCasteā nonfiction book of the year, and Oprah Winfrey chose it for her book club.
A Howard University alumna, Wilkerson has taught at Princeton, Emory, Boston and other universities across the United States, Europe and Asia. Learn more about the authorās work by visiting theĢż.
Event Sponsors
This event is sponsored by theĢżCenter for African and African American Studies,ĢżCollege of Engineering and Applied Science, Strategic Resources and Support,Ģż, Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and .
Registration
Registration is now closed. Walk-up registration will not be available at the event. Please have your confirmation email ready during event check-in.Ģż
Parking
Macky Auditorium is at the intersection of 17th Street and University Avenue on the CU Boulder campus. To chart driving directions, use the address ā1595 Pleasant St.ā
Paid parking is available at Euclid Parking Garage and Folsom Garage. Accessible parking is available in lot 380, just east of Macky. Parking is limited and we encourage use of public transit and carpools. See theĢżevent parking map or theĢżinteractive campus map for more options.Ģż
Security
All guests must pass through security screening to enter the event venue. There is a no bag policy for this event. Small purses and clutches that are 4.5āx6.5ā or smaller, and bags containing medically necessary equipment, will be permitted after security inspection.Ģż To request accessibility accommodations, please email Rennea Rojo-MartĆnez Donovan.Ģż
Regional Events
- , the only one of its kind in the country and celebrating its 41st anniversary, Jan. 20, Civic Center Park in downtown Denver. Opening ceremony starts at 9:30 a.m. and the Marade step-off starts at 10:45 a.m. The event includes a closing ceremony and the Dr. King Legacy Bike Ride.