Past Events - University of Houston
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Past Events

UH MLK Gallery Walk
Embark on a journey through the experiences of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the key figures who shaped his life and continued his impactful legacy. Explore captivating images from Dr. King’s life, showcasing moments of friendship and the profound influence of comradery on the pursuit of social justice and change.

MLK Jr. BBQ
The MLK Jr. BBQ is an annual cookout hosted by the Eta Mu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to celebrate the works of their fraternity brother, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join us for food, drinks, and games!

Free Wednesday Lunch MLK Celebration
Join us in Celebrating and honoring Martin Luther King over free Lunch sponsored by Dean of Students Office and Community & Office of Government and Community Relations.

The Wednesday Lunch program creates an opportunity for our community to connect and engage with one another over a free meal. All are Welcome. Each Wednesday lunch is generously sponsored/provided by a UH Department, Campus Ministry, or local House of Worship.

MLK X SGA Photoshoot “How are you a Friend of the King?”
Stop by SGA’s table to show you how you are a friend of the king! Show your support through writing down affirmations of encouragement and posting for your friends

“Interview with a King” Film Premier
Interview with a King was written by University of Houston alumnus Major General Barrye Price, PhD. This documentary, with an interview format storyline, reintroduces Martin Luther King, Jr. and redefines him not as a god-like being defined by destiny, but as a man defined by conscience.

Student Centers Film Series: An Interview with a King
The Student Centers Film Series is returning this semester! In partnership with the MLK committee, there will be a showing of An Interview with a King in the Student Center South Theater. The creator of this documentary, Major General Barrye L. Price, will speak after the screening. There will be free admission and concessions!

With an interview format, this animated documentary captures the spirit and wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The writer seeks to illustrate Dr. King’s examples of leadership under fire, his duty to his fellow man, his fight for basic respect and human dignity for all mankind, his selfless pursuit of justice and his moral crusade to soften the hardened hearts that represented the status quo.

MLK Jr. Celebration Featuring Former Mayor Sylvester Turner
The MLK Jr. Planning Committee is proud to invite you to attend this year’s University of Houston’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jrs Commemorative Campus Celebration. This year’s theme is, “Friends of the King” where we will honor the collective work of the many people who worked alongside Dr. King in the fight for civil rights both then and now.

The event will have live music by Htown Orchestra, light afternoon snacks, a captivating and movie performance by Jonathan Lajas and a keynote address by a Former Mayor Sylvester Turner. The keynote address will discuss the importance of the role of collective community action and offer his reflections on his term as the mayor of the nation’s 4th largest city. The keynote will be followed by a Q&A session moderated by Dr. Lekesha Barnett.

SPB Movie Showing: Blackkklansman
BlacKkKlansman is a 2018 American biographical crime comedy drama film directed by Spike Lee and written by Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott and Lee, loosely based on the 2014 memoir Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth. The plot follows the first African-American detective in the city’s police department as he sets out to infiltrate and expose the local Ku Klux Klan chapter.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by giving back to the community at Day of Service. Participants will have the option to participate at service sites both on and off campus!

Black Student Union Poetry Slam
An event where students can showcase and perform their poetry in a contest! This is the second year of this event and is a partnership with Rice University students. The crowd will be great, the poetry will be better. Come network and honor MLK by attending the BSU Poetry Slam.

MLK Jr. Essay Contest
Interested UH students submitted a 2-page essay on the prompt "The dream is alive". The essays were centered around MLK and the message. The winners were announced with a special video message from the UH SGA cabinet on social media.

MLK Jr. Gallery
The MLK BBQ is an annual cookout hosted by the Eta Mu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on campus to celebrate the works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

BSU Slam Poetry
Black Student Union brought back slam poetry, an event that showcases students performing poems inspired by the importance of MLK and Black History in America.

When They See Us Watch Party
A screening and discussion of When They See Us, a miniseries created and directed by Ava DuVernay, based on events of the 1989 Central Park jogger case and the lives of the five Black and Latino male suspects, including our 2023 MLK Speaker, Dr. Yusef Salaam.

Dr. MLK Jr. Commemorative Celebration Featuring Dr. Yusef Salaam
The 2023 Dr. MLK Jr. Commemorative Celebration featured Prison Reform Activist and Justice Seeker Dr. Yusef Salaam, who was wrongfully convicted in the "Central Park Jogger" case along with four other Black and Latinx young men, known as "The Exonerated Five".

Celebration featuring Houston Poet Laureate, Outspoken Bean
Keynote Address and Conversational Interview by Dr. Yusef Salaam.

The King Lesser Known
There was more to MLK than his dream. In this event, we dug into some of his lesser-known speeches and revealed unexplored facts about the man, his philosophy, and his life's work.

SPB Movie Showing: King Richard
The Student Program Board held a showcase of the film King Richard, which looked at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after being coached by their father Richard Williams. King Richard is a story about hard work and determination, overcoming obstacles, and triumph in the face of adversity and discrimination.

MLK Jr. Day of Service
An afternoon of service in support of the Houston Community. Projects included painting mugs, making no-sew blankets, and more. Lunch, a t-shirt, and materials required for service projects were provided for all volunteers.

44th Annual Original MLK Day Parade
External campus event, not hosted by the University of Houston. The parade features live musical performances, kid-friendly activities, art, craft vendors, marketing booths, food, and more! Free for public to attend.

MLK Day Art and Essay Competitions
Students had the opportunity to play an active role in celebrating and reflecting on the legacy and life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by competing in the MLK Day Art and Essay Competitions. The winner of the Essay Competition was Ada Cinar, and the winner of the Art Competition was Katherine Galland.

MLK Gallery

MLK Commemorative Celebration featuring speaker Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins
Featherson-Jenkins is an actress, singer, and producer who currently stars in the critically acclaimed Netflix Original Series, DEAR WHITE PEOPLE. Live-streaming was available during and after the program.

Workplace Conversations: Celebrating the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at the National Mall
Staff Council's 2022 Workplace Conversations honored the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. The conversation led by Harry E. Johnson shared the idea and fruition of the MLK, Jr. Memorial at the National Mall from land acquisition to the 10th Anniversary celebration.

Showing of King in the Wilderness
King in the Wilderness documents the final moments of Dr. King's life, revealing how the activist navigated conflict and criticism in his social justice journey.

MLK Day of Service
CSI held a day of service with our campus and community partners working to address social issues facing Houston.

UH MLK Gallery
UH students took a walk in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, seeing historic pictures from the life of Martin Luther King and highlights from the Civil Rights Movement.

MLK Community Scavenger Hunt
The Center for Student Involvement celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by completing the MLK Community Scavenger Hunt! Those who completed the scavenger hunt received a limited edition MLK Celebration coffee mug!

Student Programming Board FREE Movie Screening of DETROIT

Commemorative Celebration: Expressions of Social Justice: The Time is Now

  • Keynote by Patrisse Cullors
  • Performance by Good News Gospel Choir
  • Poetry by Aris Kian and Kendryk Youngblood

FREE Movie Screening of Blackkklansmen>

Call to Action Tabling Events

MLK Day of Service

Houston 42nd Annual Original MLK Parade

MLK Commemorative Celebration

  • Keynote Speaker Nikki Giovanni

MLK Commemorative Celebration

  • Keynote Speaker Symone Sanders

Luncheon with a Keynote by Dr. Lee

FREE Movie Screening of Selma Followed by a panel discussion

MLK Commemorative Celebration

  • Keynote Speaker Mayor Sylvester Turner
  • Music by Good News Gospel Choir

MLK Day of Service

Commemorative Celebration: Breaking Barriers, Strengthening Communities

  • Keynotes Speaker Dr. Virgil A. Wood and Varion "Se7en the Poet"

Social Justice: Then & Now Lecture

FREE Movie Screening and Discussion of Selma

MLK Day of Service