Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture at Harvard

Martin Luther King, Jr.The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture at Harvard annually honors individuals who have advanced the work that inspired Dr. King to act and lead and who embody the spirit of Dr. King’s vision of servant leadership. Learn more about the MLK Commemorative Lecture at Harvard.

Last year's Lecture was held on October 4, 2023, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at the Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, MA.

 

Opening performance was by Elyse MS and Family, introduction by Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Sherri Ann Charleston, faculty remarks by Carl M. Loeb University Professor Annette Gordon-Reed, keynote by the Honorable Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, and discussion moderated by Ananda Birungi and Atlas Sanogo from Harvard College. 

About the 2023 Lecturer

Lorretta E. LynchLoretta E. Lynch served as the 83rd U.S. attorney general from 2015 through 2017—only the second woman, and the first Black woman to hold that office. During her tenure, she worked to ensure equal protection of the law, notably in defense of LGBT equality in the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, which made same-sex marriages legal in all 50 states. She vigorously defended the Voting Rights Act, challenged discrimination against transgender people, and worked to reform law enforcement practices and police training.  

At a young age, Lynch, the daughter of a librarian and a Baptist minister, became inspired by students who planned anti-segregation boycotts at her father’s church and by listening to stories of her grandfather’s heroism in helping Black families to relocate away from places where Jim Crow was the norm in the 1930s.

Lynch is a partner in the Paul, Weiss Litigation Department where she advises clients on government and internal investigations and on high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters. She has been named one of Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation.”  Lynch received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her A.B. in American Literature from Harvard University. 

Submit a 2025 Nominee

All members of the Harvard community are invited to submit a nominee for the 2025 lecture. Nominees do not need to be a member of the Harvard community; individuals from a range of disciplines and backgrounds are welcome. Nominees should embody the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of civic leadership.

Submit a nominee

 

About the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture

In October 1962, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Harvard Law School about the future of integration and the path to racial justice. “Human progress comes as a result of the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals,” said Dr. King.

In honor of the 60th anniversary of that speech, President Larry Bacow announced the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture at Harvard, which aims to recognize such dedicated individuals, who through their activism, advocacy, scholarship, or service, have made an indelible contribution to advancing justice and equality. 

Beginning with the inaugural public lecture in October 2022, the Harvard community each fall will acknowledge and celebrate an individual who, through activism, advocacy, scholarship, or service, has helped to advance the work that inspired Dr. King to act and lead. "Those of us who are privileged to work and learn at Harvard must model the behavior we want to see in the rest of the world. I hope you share my enthusiasm about creating a new way for Harvard to participate in a critical and ongoing national conversation about racial justice, equity, and opportunity. I look forward to gathering with you to welcome our inaugural King Commemorative Lecturer later this year," said Bacow in a letter to the Harvard community.

Past Lecturers

2023: Loretta E. Lynch is the 83rd U.S. attorney general from 2015 through 2017 who worked for justice to ensure equal protection of the law for all, no matter their gender, race, ethnicity, or class. Watch the 2023 lecture on YouTube.

2022: Freeman A. Hrabowski III, PhD, is nationally celebrated for his transformational leadership in inclusive excellence, known for expanding participation of underrepresented minority students in STEM. Watch the 2022 lecture on YouTube