The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Beloved Community
Dear members of the Northwestern community,
As we commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we do so in the spirit of reflection, care and renewed commitment to one another. Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community offers both grounding and guidance, calling us to understand justice, dignity and belonging as practices we must continually choose and sustain together.
This year, the Northwestern MLK Commemoration centers Beloved Community as a guiding framework for how we gather, listen to and care for one another.
Dr. King described the Beloved Community as a place where all people are respected and treated as equals. For him, this vision was not a distant utopia or an abstract moral ideal but a realistic and achievable goal, one made possible by a critical mass of people committed to reconciliation and what he called agape love, “a redeeming goodwill for all,” a love that seeks “to preserve and create community.” Our 2026 MLK Commemoration programming will begin in Evanston at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18 with the annual Candlelight Vigil, hosted by the Alpha Mu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Since 1980, the vigil has served as a space for remembrance and reflection. This year’s vigil will take place in Alice Millar Chapel and be livestreamed for those who wish to join virtually.
After Monday’s holiday, the commemoration will continue at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 with the MLK Commemoration keynote in the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall on the Evanston campus. For the first time, the keynote will feature a panel of Northwestern faculty and community leaders who will explore the concept and practice of Beloved Community. Moderated by Sylvester Johnson, chair and professor of Black Studies, the panel will include Leslie Harris, Kate Masur, Morris “Dino” Robinson and Laurice Bell. Together, they will reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, the challenges of our contemporary moment and the work required to cultivate environments rooted in justice and collective responsibility. A reception will follow the keynote.
For keynote details and a comprehensive schedule of events on our Evanston and Chicago campuses, please visit the Northwestern MLK website.
As we prepare for these events, we extend our sincere appreciation to the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration planning committee, the Office of Community Enrichment, the Alpha Mu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the many campus and community partners whose dedication makes this programming possible.
This year’s MLK Commemoration offers space for reflection and shared learning around the vision of Beloved Community. We invite every member of the Northwestern community to join these conversations and consider how this vision might inform our daily interactions and collective responsibilities.