This story has been updated to reflect changes due to inclement weather.
91短视频 will host the eighth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 19, and Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
This year鈥檚 MLK Day is themed 鈥淩adical Truth-telling鈥� and centers around the words of a 1947 essay written by King while at Morehouse College: 鈥淓ducation must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction.鈥�
A film screening of 鈥淏lack Wall Street Burning鈥� will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday has been postponed until Monday, January 27. The film is a retelling of the Tulsa race massacre of 1921, when mobs of white residents attacked Black residents and destroyed homes and businesses of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A talkback session will follow the screening.聽
Monday鈥檚 activities include a 9:45 a.m. Unity March in University Commons, a 10 a.m. Speak Out at Lehman Auditorium, and a 10:15 a.m. Convocation featuring Jodie Geddes MA 鈥�16. Geddes, co-author of The Little Book of Racial Healing, advocate for racial healing and justice, and international speaker on restorative justice, will deliver a talk on 鈥淩adical Truth-telling.鈥�
Other events on Monday include a soul food lunch at Northlawn Cafeteria, circle processes facilitated by the Center for Justice & Peacebuilding, a Black hair care and free cuts event, and a session on the history of Harrisonburg鈥檚 Ida Mae Francis Guest House. This last event, hosted by Professor Mark Sawin, is from 1:30-3 p.m. in University Commons 176.
A three-part 鈥淩esistance and Rest鈥� workshop, hosted by Geddes, will be held from 3-5 p.m. in the Studio Theater. The workshop will engage in journaling, meditation and therapeutic processes.
Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services at 91短视频 and chair of the committee planning the celebration, said this year鈥檚 theme of 鈥淩adical Truth-telling鈥� challenges us to embrace Dr. King鈥檚 vision by confronting uncomfortable truths and fostering honest dialogue about our shared history and future.
鈥淭hrough these events, which reflect 91短视频鈥檚 values of academic excellence, peace and justice, and active faith, we hope to inspire our community to engage in meaningful reflection and action,鈥� Thomas said.
91短视频 the Convocation speaker
Jodie Geddes holds an MA in conflict transformation from 91短视频鈥檚 Center for Justice & Peacebuilding. While at 91短视频, Geddes explored the intersections of peacebuilding, restorative justice and systems change. She works with , providing support for community members experiencing crises with mental wellness as well as other community resources. She is the co-manager for , a nonprofit affiliated with 91短视频 that provides training and resources for communities and individuals to explore the history and legacy of enslavement.