I am excited to announce the plans we have for the 2025 Commemoration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Salem campus.
A committee was formed to help plan these offerings in addition to Black History Month. This years offerings were driven by our campus's Black Student Union (BSU), the Student Affairs; learning outcomes, an assessment of our cultural programming for the academic year, and available resources.
There is no theme to this year's Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. commemoration and we have reimagined how we can continue to carry out the longevity of MLK's work. Below is what you can expect in the coming Spring! We invite you to join us in one or more of these opportunities.
January 21st-24th, 2025 | Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. Spirit Week
BSU has curated a Spirit Week to carry out Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's teachings. These Spirit Days are represented by related themes for the entirety of the campus to participate in. MLK's power transcended racial lines at a time when segregation ran rampant. The center of his teachings was not just to empower Black Americans, but also underrepresented, underamplified, and lower-class communities overlooked by the government. We invite you to show up and show out each day and to follow along on Instagram (@willametteuniversity_bsu and @willametteintercultural) for relevant education and resources.
When participating in any of these days, please be mindful of cultural appropriation. There are many ways to participate in the following without appropriating Black culture or altering your physical appearance.
January 21st | Black Out Day: The first day of the week will be commenced by wearing all black (this does include Black Student Union or past MLK Day swag if you have it) to represent solidarity in the Black experience across diverse communities! If you're interested in any vintage MLK Day swag, please connect with the Office of Intercultural Engagement & Inclusion
January 22nd | Heritage Day: Representation of folks' unique ancestry and how it impacts one's perspective will be honored by folks wearing mementos or traditional garb (if you so choose) to facilitate conversations about the diverse regions of Blackness as well as other nationalities! We hope this ignites conversations about home and what each student, staff, or faculty member brings to the WU campus!
January 23rd | (Black) Icons Through the Eras: Folks across campus can reference Black artists in their clothing to represent the power of soul and lyrics bringing people together! Many pivotal Black artists used their platform to uplift King's and other activists' voices through their music and symbolism.
January 24th | (Black) Superheroes: It is often hard to find in the media Black characters who are not the villain! This is a day to represent our favorite heroes and anti-heroes who inadvertently represent Black Power and make a name for yourself even when the world does not yet know your name. Embrace your power by dressing as a superhero that resonates with you!
February 6th, 13th & 27th | Roundtable Discussions in Goudy from 11:30am-1pm
Black History Month Planning Committee members will also be hosting and facilitating roundtable discussions in Goudy Commons that incorporate Black History and Rev. Dr. MLK Jr.'s teachings. Discussion on February 6th and 27th will be hosted in the Wilson Dining Room; discussion on February 13th will be in the Hines Dining Room. We encourage you and your students to participate in these meaningful conversations.
Below are the materials we will go over for each discussion (see links to access each below):
February 6th: Black Care Matters Ep. 10 Annie Johnson (available on their website and on Spotify)
February 13th: Readings by Travis Johnson's "Before Black Outdoors: Grief, Sweat, Skin" (material availability will be updated soon)
February 27th: Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" and Tyler the Creator's "CHROMAKOPIA" (both available wherever you stream music)
Email us or follow @willametteintercultural and @willametteuniversity_bsu to stay in the loop!
Meal vouchers will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis to staff, faculty, and students without a meal plan so that folks can have these discussions over a meal. There will be a limited number of vouchers and you can request one by emailing
We are excited to return to the powerful teachings of Dr. King teachings that continue to inspire. We look forward to the opportunity to uplift the resilience of community, and to advocate for a more socially just world.