University of Michigan Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lecturers
2022 | Dr. Rashad Richey, University Professor, Lecturer, Emmy nominated Broadcaster and Political/Social Analyst & Maria Hinojosa, Mexican-American Journalist, Anchor and Executive Producer | recording of event
2021 | Dr. Gloria House, Poet, Essayist, Educator and Human Rights and Community Activist & Malik Yakini, Educator, Farmer, Food Justice Advocate and Guitarist | recording of event
2020 | Angela Davis, Political Activist, Author, and Professor | recording of event
2019 | Tim Wise, Author and Scholar & Julia Putnam, Detroit Principal and Writer | recording of event
2018 | Hill Harper, Actor, Author, Philanthropist | recording of event
2017 | Amy Goodman, Journalist, Activist, Author & Issa Rae, Actress, Comedian, Writer, Director, Producer | recording of event
2016 | Nontombi Naomi Tutu, Race and Gender Justice Activist | recording of event
2015 | Marc Lamont Hill, Journalist, Scholar, Author and Activist
2014 | Harry Belafonte, Singer, Songwriter, Actor and Social Activist
2013 | Morris Dees, Civil Rights Activist and Founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center
2012 | Michelle Norris, Author and Award-winning Journalist
2011 | Shirley Sherrod, Civil rights activist and former Georgia rural state director for the United States Department of Agriculture
2010 | Gwen Ifill, Moderator & Managing Editor of PBS’s “Washington Week” & Co-anchor for the “PBS Newshour”
2009 | Julian Bond, Former Chairman of the NAACP
2008 | Louis Gossett Jr., Academy Award-winning Actor, Founder of the Eracism Foundation
2007 | Kweisi Mfume, Executive Director, NAACP
2006 | Anna Deavere Smith, Professor, Playwright, Actress
2005 | Henry G. Cisneros, Former Secretary – US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development
2004 | Lani Guinier, Harvard Law Professor and Author
2003 | Grace Lee Boggs, Detroit Activist and Author
2002 | Dr. Benjamin Carson, Neurosurgeon and Medical School Alumnus
2001 | Edward James Olmos, Actor and Humanitarian
2000 | Henry Louis Gates Jr., Director of African American Studies, Harvard University
1999 | Nikki Giovanni, Poet, Author and Essayist
1998 | Cornel West, Professor of African American Studies and Religion, Harvard University
1997 | Mary Frances Berry, Chairperson of the US Commission on Civil Rights
1996 | Jocelyn Elders, US Surgeon General
1995 | Benjamin Hooks, Executive Director of the NAACP
1994 | Charles Long, Director for Black Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
1993 | Rep. Shirley Chisholm of New York
1992 | Maulana Karenga, Director of Black Studies, California State University, Long Beach
1991 | Adelaide Sanford, Regent, State University of New York
1990 | Cesar Chavez, President, United Farm Workers Union & Kevin Locke, Traditional Native American Dancer and Musician, Lakota Nation
1989 | Mayor Willie Brown Jr. of San Francisco
1988 | Gov. Douglas Wilder of Virginia
1987 | Rep. William Gray III of Pennsylvania
*Positions and titles listed reflect status at the time of address
