Martin Luther King Jr. is an icon for equality, a trailblazer for civil rights and a spokesperson of non-violent social change. MLK was born on Jan. 15, so his holiday is held on the third Monday of the month of January, around his birthday. This year, MLK Day will be held on Jan. 20.
NCC will be hosting its annual MLK Jr. Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 20. As opposed to previous years, it will be held at 10 a.m. at the Wentz Science Center. This year, the speaker will be Dr. Herman B. White Jr.
Dr. White is a Scientist Emeritus Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Senior Scientist. He has served as vice-chairman of the Board of Trustees at NCC. Dr. White earned an A.B. degree in physics from Earlham College, an M.S. degree in nuclear and accelerator physics from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in elementary particle physics from Florida State University, in addition to studies at Yale University and an L.H.D. degree from Mount Mercy University.
He is considered the first African American in history to have a scientific equation that bears their name. So just like the late Dr. King Jr., he is a trailblazer for African Americans.
Events
Aside from the Prayer Breakfast, there are other events happening around MLK Day.
- On Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. at Meiley-Swallow Hall, there will be a book presentation of Candacy Taylor’s Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America.
- On Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. in Wentz Concert Hall, the Chicago Sinfonietta will hold their annual tribute to Dr. King Jr.
- On Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. the Multicultural Students Center (Upper WAC) will host an African American Read-In.
- On Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. in Smith Hall, there will be a screening of Ava DuVernay’s 2014 film Selma.
These and more activities occur until Jan. 27.
