Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture Series

Kevin Willmott, January 23, 2024

Kevin Willmott (right) Kevin Willmott grew up in Junction City, Kansas and received his BA in Drama from Marymount College in Salina, Kansas. After graduation, he returned home and worked as a peace and civil rights activist, fighting for the rights of the poor, creating two Catholic Worker shelters for the homeless, and forcing the integration of several long standing segregated institutions. He attended graduate studies at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, receiving several writing awards and his M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing.

Harry Edwards, 2020

Over his career, activist and athlete Harry Edwards has persisted in efforts to compel the sports establishment to confront and to effectively address issues pertaining to diversity and equal opportunity within its rank. Edwards, a scholar-activist who became spokesperson for what amounted to a revolution in sports, is now considered a leading authority on developments at the interface of race, sport, and society and was a pioneering scholar in the founding of the sociology of sport as an academic discipline.

Andrew Gillum, 2019

Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee mayor, came to national prominence as the first Black nominee for governor in Florida’s history. His historic 2018 run was “for anyone who has ever been told they don’t belong,” he said. “We deserve a seat at the table, too.”

Joy DeGruy, 2018

Joy DeGruy is a nationally and internationally renowned researcher, educator, author and presenter. Her seminars have been lauded as the most dynamic and inspirational currently being presented on the topics of culture, race relations and contemporary social issues. She is a tell-it-like-it-is ambassador for healing and a voice for those who’ve struggled in search of the past, and continue to struggle through the present.

Sister Souljah, 2017

Sister Souljah (pictured on right) is a hip-hop generation best-selling author, activist, recording artist and film producer. A graduate of Rutgers University, she earned a degree in American History and African Studies. She also attended the Cornell University Advanced Placement Study program and studied abroad in Europe at the University of Salamanca.

University of Missouri-Kansas city

External Relations and Constituent Engagement

2024 Speaker

Recent Speakers

Kevin Willmott, January 23, 2024

Harry Edwards, 2020

Andrew Gillum, 2019

Joy DeGruy, 2018

Sister Souljah, 2017