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Martin Luther King III highlights family legacy at SU’s 37th MLK celebration

Emily Steinberger | Editor-in-Chief

While speaking, King III connected his father’s words and work to a modern context. He specifically cited social movements of today such as Black Lives Matter, the women’s movement and March For Our Lives.

By Kyle ChouinardManaging Editor

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While not officially ordained by a church like his father Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King III considers ministry to be a mission-driven project.

“My ministry is in engaging in human rights,” King III said.

King III spoke at Syracuse University’s 37th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday night. The event featured a collection of performances from the Community Choir and Black Celestial Choral Ensemble and speakers that included Chancellor Kent Syverud and the Rev. Brian Konkol, the dean of Hendricks Chapel.

“(Martin Luther King Jr.) advocated for love in the face of hate.” Syverud said. “He pressed for freedom in the face of oppression. He continues to inspire generations with his dream of equality.”



King III said during his talk with event co-chair and SU junior David Barbier Jr. that humanity must learn non-violence. King III said that his father told him that humanity’s choice is between nonviolence and non-existence.

“Today, unfortunately, we’re at a very critical place where our nation is volatile enough that it could engage in explosion,” King III said. “The hope and the work that we must do is to keep that from happening.”

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While speaking, King III connected his father’s words and work to a modern context. He specifically cited social movements of today such as Black Lives Matter, the women’s movement and March For Our Lives.

King III also spoke on the role of colleges and universities as agents of change. An education gives only part of what it takes to make change, he said.

“Education gives you the theory, but you sometimes have to engage in pragmatic, practical experiences,” King III said.

King III also spoke about his mother, Coretta Scott King, who was an activist and civil rights leader like her husband.

Coretta Scott King was a coalition builder, King III said, helping organize the creation and implementation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta. King III said his mother understood the importance of preserving documents.

“If it were not for mother, I don’t know how far dad’s legacy would have gone.”

King III ended his discussion by asking listeners to let their conscience drive their decision-making.

“I hope that (SU students) would look to Martin Luther King Jr. for a philosophy that helped to transform our nation and the world,” King III said, “so that our nation and world becomes better.”





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