ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan will commemorate Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 20 with nearly 100 events beginning next week and running throughout February, including lectures by Mary Frances Berry, Julian Bond, Manning Marable and Martin Luther King III.

King, who will give talks at noon Jan. 21 at the Alumni Center and later that day at 7 p.m. at Rackham Auditorium, will draw on his personal experience and his father?s legacy to discuss the role of activism today.

The MLK Symposium celebration officially kicks off with a free concert featuring gospel singer Kelli Williams and the Clark Sisters at 8 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Power Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available at the Michigan Union box office, (313) 763-8587.

The MLK Memorial Lecture by U-M alumna Mary Frances Berry, chairperson of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, will launch MLK Day festivities at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at Hill Auditorium, followed by the Black Student Union?s MLK Unity March at noon starting at the corner of South University Avenue and Forest Street.

Beginning at 1 p.m., volunteers will take part in “Acting on the Dream,” an afternoon of community service at dozens of local and Detroit-area community-based agencies. If interested in participating, call Project SERVE, (313) 936- 2437.

The MLK holiday continues with a panel discussion on “Affirmative Action in the Academy: Safeguarding the Gains Made” at 3:15 p.m. in Room 100 of the Law School?s Hutchins Hall, and closes with a musical performance by the Sounds of Blackness at 8 p.m. at Hill Auditorium. Concert tickets, $12 and $26, are available at the University Musical Society box office, (313) 7642538.

The “Campaign for a Unified Community of Justice,” the theme of this year?s MLK Symposium, also will feature a panel discussion on “Activism in Backlash Times” at 3 p.m. Jan. 21 in Angell Hall, Auditorium B; a lecture by scholar and political commentator Manning Marable at 3 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Michigan League?s Mendelssohn Theatre; a panel discussion on “Peaceful Resolution of Conflict in the Global Village” at 4 p.m. Jan. 23 in Angell Hall, Auditorium A; and a talk by Native American activist Dennis Banks at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Mendelssohn Theatre. In addition to Symposium activities, unit-sponsored events will feature lectures, panels, readings, films, performances and exhibits campuswide.

These include a talk by CNN political analyst and author Farai Chideya at 1 p.m. Jan. 20 in the Michigan Union Ballroom; a lecture by scholar and civil rights activist Julian Bond at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Business School?s Hale Auditorium, Assembly Hall; a dramatic presentation by the actor and Rev. Clifton Davis at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Power Center; and two talks by former U.S. Surgeon General Antonia Coello Novello at noon Jan. 23 at the Alumni Center and at 5 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Thomas Francis Jr. Building (School of Public Health II).

For more information, contact MLK Symposium program coordinator Tara Young, U-M Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives, at (313) 936-1055 or [email protected].

Commission on Civil RightsUniversity Musical SocietyManning MarableFarai Chideya[email protected]