Yale has a long tradition of celebrating Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy. On January 14, 1959, King spoke to a full house in Woolsey Hall about the future of integration and the civil rights movement and celebrated his 30th birthday the following day on campus. He spoke again at Battell Chapel three years later, on January 14, 1962. In 1964, Yale presented King with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. His honorary degree citation read, “As your eloquence has kindled the nation’s sense of outrage, so your steadfast refusal to countenance violence in resistance to injustice has heightened our sense of national shame. When outrage and shame together shall one day have vindicated the promise of legal, social, and economic opportunity for all citizens, the gratitude of peoples everywhere and of generations of Americans yet unborn will echo our admiration.”

Each year, Yale University honors the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with celebrations on campus and in the New Haven community. These commemorative events highlight Yale’s and New Haven’s spirit of service and provide an opportunity for education and unity in these challenging times.  Please explore the Annual Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. website for more information, and join us throughout January to honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.