Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and social justice advocate Roger Wilkins will give the keynote address at Davidson College’s celebration of the Martin Luther King Day holiday. Mr. Wilkins’ speech will mark the culmination of a series of free public events Jan. 21-23 titled “Equity: If not now, when?” The series includes a “read-in” for kids, a gospel concert, a film screening, and several discussions about race.

Mr. Wilkins will speak during the Community Convocation, beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in Duke Family Performance Hall.

Mr. Wilkins, nephew of the late civil rights activist Roy Wilkins, interned as a young lawyer with Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund and then served as the assistant attorney general under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Roger Wilkins later joined the editorial staff of The Washington Post, where he shared a Pulitzer Prize for exposing the Watergate scandal. He is now a commentator for CBS and National Public Radio and publisher of the NAACP’s journal, Crisis. He has also written several books and numerous book reviews and op-ed pieces for major American newspapers.  Mr. Wilkins is currently a professor of history and American culture at George Mason University.

Besides Mr. Wilkins’ address on Jan. 23, the college also plans the following events for the King holiday on Jan. 21st and 22nd, all of which will be at Alvarez College Union:

MONDAY, JAN. 21

King Day for Kids Community Read-In, 10 a.m.- noon (sponsored by “Engage for Change” and the Davidson College Office of Community Service) – This student-led session will include fun activities for children, with a focus on literacy. All children attending will receive an age-appropriate gift, so please RSVP your child’s attendance by calling 704-894-2225.

Community Lunch, Noon–1 p.m. – A free lunch will be offered to all who attend. Entertainment will be provided by the Mallard Creek House of Prayer for All People shout band.

The Return of the King: A Montage of a Dream Deferred, 1:30 –2:45 p.m. – Davidson senior Darrel Scott and College Union Fellow Solvig Pittenger will lead a discussion of how blacks are portayed in the media based on clips of Aaron McGruder’s “Boondocks” and episodes of the Chappelle Show.

Science, Race, and Human Behavior, 1:30-2:45 p.m. – Jon Marks, professor of sociology and anthropology at UNC-Charlotte, will present a look at claims that members of a particular race naturally have different potentials. He will demonstrate that actual patterns of human biological variation do not map easily onto races, nor on to patterns of human behavioral variation. He will also examine the sources of claims that there is a conspiracy of silence to suppress the dissemination of this information.

From No Rights to Civil Rights: Untold Stories of Town & Gown Relations in Davidson, 3 p.m. – Jan Blodgett, Davidson College archivist, will facilitate a symposium focusing on the relationship between the Town of Davidson and Davidson College. Community leaders, alumni, faculty, staff and students will share stories of community struggles and successes. The session will consider how Davidson College can continue to work toward equity and social justice both on and off-campus.

MLK Gospel Extravaganza, 7 p.m. – The program will feature musical offerings from Joint Heir of Statesville, the Greater Life Ministries Praise Team from Rock Hill, the Gethsemane Baptist Men’s Choir and Gospel Singers of Davidson and special guests “Ronica & The Mighty Blazing Stars” of Mooresville.

TUESDAY, JAN. 22

A Documentary: “Shock Value: Why Are We Surprised?” 8:30-9:30 p.m. – This short documentary film by Davidson College students interviews people in the college community concerning racial injustice locally and nationwide. The film showing will be followed by small group discussion.