Motivational speaker and actress Yolanda King will lecture and perform a one-woman show Jan. 12 at Washington State University in the first of a series of Pullman and Moscow events celebrating the life and work of her father, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
King will perform “Trippin’: A Journey Home” at 7 p.m. at WSU’s Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum as part of her presentation, “Multicultural Diversity ~ The New Frontier.” The event is free and open to the public.
A reception for King will follow at the University of Idaho, at which groups may reserve tables. For details about reservations and tickets, contact UI’s multicultural affairs office, (208) 885-7716.
James Bledsoe, MLK celebration chair, said King’s presentation is expected to inspire positive social change and provide a vision for world peace.
A Los Angeles resident, she will be the second of King’s children to speak during a MLK event in Pullman. Her brother, Martin Luther King III, spoke in 1995.
As this story was written in December, not all celebration activities have been finalized. To view the most recent schedule, visit www.wsu.edu/MLK or call (509) 335-4315. The following is a tentative list of the week’s events:
*Jan. 13 — Gospel concert by God’s Harmony, a WSU student musical group;
*Jan. 14 — WSU Department of Comparative Ethnic Studies brown bag lecture about social justice;
*Jan.15 — Martin Luther King Jr./ Human Rights Community Breakfast, sponsored by Latah County Human Rights Task Force, 9-11:30 a.m. Moscow Junior High School multipurpose room; food, entertainment, Rosa Parks Human Rights Achievement Awards and guest speaker Cherie Buckner-Webb, human rights diversity consultant, Hewlett Packard, Boise. Cost is $6 adults/ $4 children and students. Tickets must be purchased in advance at Bookpeople in Moscow;
*Jan. 16 — MLK Unity March in Pullman, Spoken Word performance by dramatic lyricist Saul Williams, WSU campus;
*Jan. 17 — MLK annual food drive, Moscow and Pullman Safeway stores 8 a.m.- 8 p.m., collecting nonperishable and canned goods for food banks in both communities; MLK Education Project;
*Jan. 18 — MLK Unity March begins at Friendship Square in downtown Moscow at 5 p.m.; MLK Distinguished Service Awards Banquet 6 p.m. SUB Ballroom, UI campus; Michael Tate, WSU Vice President for Diversity and Equity, will keynote.
