Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration 2015

January 18 to 24, 2015

The University of Mary Washington Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Keynote Speaker: Ernest Green

Wednesday, Jan. 21| 7 p.m. | Dodd Auditorium, George Washington Hall

Sponsored by the Office of the President

Ernest Green was among a group of African Americans called the Little Rock Nine. In 1957, they were the first black students to attend classes at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. When he finished the following year, Green became the school’s first African-American graduate. Several years later, he delved into employment law, securing a building-trade apprenticeship with the Adolph Institute, which aimed to uncover professional careers and opportunities for minority women in the South. Green, who now works for American corporate consulting firms, directed the A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund from 1968 to 1976 and served as assistant secretary in the Labor Department under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981. In 1999, Green, along with the other members of the Little Rock nine, received the highest honor awarded to a civilian, the Congressional Gold Medal. Presented by then-President Bill Clinton, the award recognized Green’s bravery during integration at Little Rock High School.

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All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.  For more information, contact the James Farmer Multicultural Center at 540/654-1044; Lee Hall 211; students.umw.edu/multicultural or via email at umwjfmc@gmail.com.