The celebration
Tributes and recognition of Dr. King and the achievements of the civil rights movement have been celebrated at ASU since long before the creation of a state holiday in Arizona. A highlight of the celebration is the recognition and awards ceremony for the Arizona K-12 students who are winners of the statewide essay-poster contest. A children’s march on the West Valley campus and other events are also held.
Events
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Offices and classrooms on all ASU campuses are closed to observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Click here to see all of the events of ASU’s annual MLK Celebration.
MLK March on West
The 34th Annual MLK March on West
A tradition at Arizona State University’s West Valley campus that dates back to 1991, reaching middle school students, members of the ASU community and the public to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and to understand the history-changing 1963 March on Washington. This in-person event will include educational presentations about the history of the civil rights movement, a musical program and an inspirational rendition of the “I Have a Dream” speech by ASU faculty member Charles St. Clair. Email MLKWest@asu.edu for more information.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Breakfast
For community members, students, winners of the poster-essay contest and their parents, teachers and principals. By invitation. For more information, contact Diney Ransford at (480) 965-3892.
MLK day of service
The ASU MLK Celebration Committee and Changemaker Central @ ASU would like to invite you to be a “Changemaker” by joining us for an important Day of Service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King. On Saturday, January 25, 2025, Changemaker will provide transportation from all four campus locations to the volunteer sites (as well as provide breakfast before and lunch after). Please click on the link below to register for the event. We are looking forward to serving with you!
Other events
The Langston Hughes Project
Learn about social change and history through music and poetry. Free food and refreshments will be served.
“The Virtue of Color-Blindness and the American Project” with Andre Archie
“Color-blindness” is grounded in the understanding that an individual’s or a group’s racial membership should be irrelevant when choices are made, or attitudes formed. Instead, character should be understood as the root of individual choices and attitudes. As Martin Luther King Jr. famously says in his “I Have a Dream Speech,” he wants his children to live in a nation where they would be judged by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin.