Each year, Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University collaborate to host a major celebration to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The theme of this year’s program, “On Common Ground: Where Do We Go From Here?,” highlights the call for the next generation of leaders to help mend historical divides and end systemic injustice.

On Monday, Jan. 22, Michael Eric Dyson will present the 18th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day keynote speech at 7 p.m. in Wait Chapel.

The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Visit wfuic.eventbrite.com to register.

Dyson, an American Book Award recipient and two-time NAACP Image Award winner, is one of the nation’s most influential and renowned public intellectuals. His pioneering scholarship has had a profound effect on American ideas.

His most recent book, “Can You Hear Me Now? The Inspiration, Wisdom, and Insight of Michael Eric Dyson,” offers a sampling of his sharp wit, profound thought, and edifying eloquence on the enduring problems of humanity, from love to justice, and the latest topics of the day, including race and the presidency.

Dyson is University Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University – but his influence has carried far beyond the academy into prisons and bookstores, political conventions and union halls, and church sanctuaries and lecture stages across the world.

Other Events

Earlier in the evening, Winston-Salem State University will host an invitation-only banquet where one student and one faculty/staff member from both Winston-Salem State and Wake Forest will receive the “Building the Dream” award in recognition of their efforts toward improving social justice and building community.

On Saturday, Jan. 20, Winston-Salem State University will host the 2018 MLK Day of Service Read-In in the Donald J. Reaves Student Center from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is part of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service and promotes King’s legacy of service, literacy and community empowerment to children ages 4-10.

For more information on the joint celebration, contact the Wake Forest Office of Multicultural Affairs at 336-758-5864, or Winston-Salem State University Student Activities and Engagement at 336-750-3351.