Writings & Remarks

MLK Day 2025

January 20, 2025

Tags Public Statements

Dear Hamilton Community,

In conjunction with this year’s observance of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I’m reminded of a quote attributed to the iconic civil rights leader:

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

The quote dates to Dr. King’s time as a student at Morehouse College in the late 1940s. It seems to me Dr. King was advocating for the type of education we offer here at Hamilton – a liberal arts education that prepares students to be of service to others. 

To honor Dr. King’s legacy, please join me and members of our community at a dinner honoring Dr. King that the Days-Massolo Center is organizing on Wednesday, Jan. 29, in the Tolles Pavilion. You’ll receive more information and a chance to register in the coming week. The program will include stories and reflections about Dr. King and his legacy from members of the Hamilton community speaking more than half a century after his death.

In the meantime, I invite you to listen to a speech or read a paper by Dr. King that may be unfamiliar to you. He was prolific and there is so much more to learn from him beyond the most familiar speeches. And if you are so inclined, I hope you will share with me any new reflections. 

You may also be interested in viewing this brief but powerful MLK tribute by Marc Bemuthi Joseph and Haitian-American composer, performer, and violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain. Daniel came to campus and spoke at my inauguration in September.

I hope you will find time to observe MLK Day by participating in any of these or other ways that are meaningful to you.

In solidarity with Dr. King’s message of civil and economic rights and equality for all,

Steven