UC Santa Barbara is set to host several significant events as part of its celebration for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The festivities will commence on January 15 with a free documentary screening followed by a silent march across campus.
At noon, the Center for Black Studies Research will present a screening in Room 4603 of South Hall, featuring a recording of Martin Luther King Jr. reading his influential “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” This powerful letter, written in 1963 while King was incarcerated for taking part in nonviolent protests against segregation, remains an essential part of the civil rights discourse.
Following this, participants will have the opportunity to watch “I Am Not Your Negro,” a 2016 documentary based on an unfinished manuscript by James Baldwin. This 90-minute film draws connections between modern-day racial issues and Baldwin’s reflections on key civil rights figures, including King, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers. Sharron Tettegah, director of the Center for Black Studies, emphasized the importance of such events in promoting a deeper understanding of African American culture. A discussion led by UCSB lecturer Wendy Eley Jackson and postdoctoral fellow Charles Terry will follow the screenings.
Terry remarked on Dr. King’s awareness of the deep-seated inequalities in American society and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice, reinforcing that King dedicated his life to this cause.
The next day, January 16, Terry will serve as the keynote speaker for the “Walk With Us” initiative. This event will start at noon at the Eternal Flame, situated on the lawn between the library and Buchanan Hall. The program will feature various speakers, including communications undergraduate Ajani Washington, alum John Higgins, and Gregory Freeland, president of the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara. After an opening speech and the singing of the Black National Anthem, attendees will participate in a silent march leading to a reception at the Multicultural Center. The celebration will extend throughout the weekend with additional activities planned in downtown Santa Barbara.
In a related highlight, Jeffrey Stewart, a Pulitzer Prize-winning professor of Black Studies at UCSB, will address the MLK Heritage Foundation’s 40th annual MLK Day Breakfast in Connecticut on January 20. His speech, titled “Nonviolence: Now More than Ever,” will focus on King’s unwavering commitment to peaceful protest and its relevance today.
This series of events not only honors the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. but also emphasizes the ongoing conversation about civil rights and equality, encouraging participation and reflection within the community. The program aims to inspire a renewed commitment to nonviolence and justice in contemporary society.