Each year, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln memorializes the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a week-long celebration, honoring his life and work while recognizing campus and community members’ whose impacts epitomize the ideals, life, and work of the civil rights leader. This work has become more pronounced and visible during historical unrest and a surgency of social and political activists in the last year.

As the university prepares for its 2021 MLK Week, the importance of reflection on the past year, including the challenges presented by the global health pandemic to our campus community, is imperative. The past year presented unprecedented challenges while also ushering in historic campus and community action, ground-breaking research, equity-based initiatives, and efforts that reflect the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

“I hope we see this MLK observance with new or wider eyes and hearts,” said Marco Barker, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion. “I hope we are more compelled by what King described as the ‘fierce urgency of now’ to make our spaces and places better and safer and brings those on the margins to the center.”

As our campus community prepares for its reflection on the legacy of MLK, here are a few stories that capture the spirit of his mission.

• Bias processes led by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion
• Student activism
• COVID-19 stories (health inequities)
• Anti-Racism Journey
• Study shows real-time stress reaction to racism
• Nebraska researchers studying COVID-19 impacts on older minority adults
• Morrill Hall exhibition celebrates tribal nations
• Law opportunities programs earn NU diversity honor
• Campus responds to national unrest
• Racial equity resource initiative

While much of the programming for this year’s MLK Week will be virtual in delivery, each experience has been designed to engage and inspire individual and collective action. Learn more here.