Save the Date

February 5, 2014
MLK Commemorative Address
Keynote speaker will be Natasha Trethewey,
2013 U.S. Poet Laureate

   Public Versus Private Schools: What's Working . . . What's Not

   Watch the video of the 2013 MLK Forum with Rob Dixon, UNH Class of '83 and UNH Professor Winston C. Thompson, Philosophy of Education

Hear from UNH Students on
what MLK means to them

2012

Theme: "The Politics of Wealth and Social Justice
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt

Program details - Click here

2011

2010

Theme: "Art as Struggle and Exultation"
Keynote Speaker: Nikki Giovanni

2009

Theme: "One in 100 Dismantling a Prison Nation"
Keynote Speaker: Angela Davis

VIDEO: Laura Knoy interviews Angela Davis:

2008

Theme: "Holler if You Hear Me: Race, Culture and Democracy"
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Michael Eric Dyson

2007

Theme: From Poverty to Empowerment a Call to Action
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Carlos Munoz, Jr.

2006

Theme: "Lift Every Voice"
Keynote Speaker: Patricia Williams Columbia, Univ. Law Professor, spoke on women's voices and civil rights.
Other events included Spiritual Celebration held at Durham Community Church, Educational Panel "Civil Rights in an Era of Civil Wrongs: Exploring Contemporary Threats to Democracy

2005

Theme: "Each One, Reach One: To Act, Inspire, and Lead"
Keynote Speaker: Kevin Powell, journalist, poet, hip-hop historian and community activist.
Other events that took place included a student service and activism conference, candlelight vigil, student panel discussion on activism, and the Social Justice Awards were also presented.

2004

Theme: "Sharing the Dream: Peace, Equity and Change"
Keynote Speaker: Elaine Jones President and Defense Council for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
Other events that took place: Community Services for Change (faculty, staff and students were invited to write letters, sign petitions, create posters while learning about community nonprofit opportunities, Holloway Commons provided a special dinner of international cuisine, spiritual celebration held at Durham Community Church, an interactive discussion on "Affirmative Action in Education: Brown to Michigan to UNH" facilitated by Wanda Mitchell and Elaine Jones. The first Social Justice Awards were also presented

2003

Theme: "The Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr."
Keynote Speaker: Randall Kennedy, Harvard Law School Professor.
Other events that took place included a panel discussion on hate words as they relate to language and oppression, an interfaith service of spirit and song at Durham Community Church, Community Service Fair, Drumming for Justice Block Party with food and live entertainment, a family celebration where children and their families were invited to learn about King's life and the changes he inspired through art and learning projects with live entertainment and an MLK Jr. birthday cake.

2002

Keynote Speaker: Joseph L. White, his speech is titled "The Spoken Voice of Martin Luther King: Once Again the Trumpet Sounds". Sisters in Step, UNH vocal group Soul Sistahs and the UNH women's a cappella singing group, provided entertainment with Rev. Arthur Hilson giving the invocation. and Rev. Larry Brickner-Wood offering the benediction.

2001

Keynote Speaker: Rev. Eugene Rivers III, Prof Harvard Divinity School.

2000

Keynote Speaker: Yolanda King urged individuals to create social change by accepting diversity. Event was held at Field House, opening remarks provided by Rev. Arthur Hilson and select songs were performed from gospel choirs of Emmanuel Baptist Church of Malden Mass and the New Hope Baptist Church

1999

Keynote Speaker: Juan Williams discussed the role of race in national politics. Event also included a performance by the New York City Gospel Choir and UNH performers Sisters in Step

1998

Keynote Speaker: Maya Angelou held at Whittemore Center with over 4,000 people in attendance. Other events included candlelight march led by Tito Jackson Student Body President, student dance and song performances

1997

Keynote Speaker: Coretta Scott King "The Dream is Still a Dream: His Legacy Continues" over 3,200 people attended the event held in Whittemore Center which was also broadcast on NH Public Radio and Channel 4 Boston

1996

Theme: "Remaining Awake Through A Great Revolution - Keeping Faith"
Keynote Speaker: Cornel West, Harvard Univ. professor of Afro-American Studies. Other events included a video discussion series "Making Sense of the 60's" led by staff and faculty and a candlelight march in Murkland Courtyard

1995

Keynote Speaker: Randall Robinson civil rights activist. Voices of New Hope Choir and Seacoast Gospel Choir providing songs of hope. A candlelight march was also led by members of the Black Student Union

1994

Theme: "Eyes on the Prize: Keeping the Dream Alive in New Hampshire"
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Bernice King
Full day of activities included breakfast with speakers Rev. Arthur Hilson of the New Hope Baptist Church of Portsmouth, Rev. Kirk Byron Jones of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Boston, Vocalist Teresa Brewster and the UNH Choir, An African-American art exhibit, Civil Rights Movement film festival, First UNH Student Congress met and discussed ways to increase diversity and multicultural education at UNH.

1993

Keynote Speaker: Julianne Malveaux civil rights activist, economist and author spoke on "Keeping the Slain Civil Rights Leader's Dream Alive".
Other events that took place included a candlelight march, musical selections and readings from the "I Have a Dream Speech".

1992

Theme: "Living the Dream"
Keynote Speakers: Walter Eggers, UNH Provost and VP for Academic Affairs, Malinda Lawrence, Student Body President, Rev. Robert Thompson Phillips Exeter Academy. A candlelight vigil and march proceeded the speaker event.

1991

A candlelight march commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr was held on January 28, 1991