In a commencement address to Oberlin College, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The time is always right to do right.” To honor this philosophy and promote open discussion about barriers still being faced in the world today, the 2022 theme of this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. program is ‘Do the Right Thing: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy’.

Through this virtual event, you will hear from campus and community members like Dr. Maulana Karenga (CSULB professor and chair of Department of Africana Studies, and creator of Kawanzaa), and leader from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) of Southern California. We will discuss how Dr. King’s message is still ever prevalent today and how we may continue pushing towards a just and equitable world.

This event is FREE and open to all students, staff, and faculty. The panel discussion will be hosted over Zoom, and we can’t wait to engage with you!

Meeting ID: 843 3910 3396
password: mlk
Zoom link: https://csulb.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAudOCprjgpE9LI5Cu_bvyd9pAMzFdUc-Vc

We are seeking essays that relate the theme and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the author’s own personal experience or observation, and how that experience (personal or witnessed) influenced them and their lives.

The theme of this event and celebration is:
Do the Right Thing: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy
“The time is always right to do right.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Three (3) essays will be selected, and the winners will receive the following:
First Place: $150 Amazon gift card
Second Place: $100 Amazon gift card
Third Place: $50 Amazon gift card

The three winners will also receive a copy of ‘Building the Basics: A Handbook for Pursuing Academic Excellence in Africana Studies’ by Dr. M. Keith Claybrook.

To acknowledge the efforts of more students who participate in the essay contest, we will award the book prize to the first 10 students who submit as well!