Each year, on the third Monday of January, we reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose leadership reshaped history during the Civil Rights Movement. His dedication to justice, equality, and human rights, particularly access to health care, resonates deeply in Birmingham, a city central to the struggle for civil rights.
This year, the Heersink School of Medicine will host the MLK Commemoration on January 17 in the Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium. This annual event provides an opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s enduring impact on society and celebrate the ongoing work of those who carry his message forward.
Dr. King’s life and legacy
In 1955, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s advocacy began to garner national attention following his leadership in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which occurred after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. At the time, Dr. King served as a pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, leveraging his position as a leader to promote messages of justice, equality, and the hope that men and women could coexist peacefully in a desegregated society.
During the Montgomery Bus Boycott, King was respected for his commitment to the fight for equal treatment of all human beings through peaceful protest and resistance. Under his leadership, Black Americans achieved significant victories, including the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, color, or national origin.
In addition to fighting for Americans' right to coexist in shared spaces, King was also outspoken about the injustices faced in health care. During his advocacy, he spoke of the need for a beloved community and envisioned a society where everyone could easily access health care resources. This message is relevant even today as health care providers continue dismantling barriers and creating an accessible health care environment.
Bridging the past and present through reflection and celebration
As the nation gathers to celebrate King’s legacy, it recognizes that his teachings are just as relevant today as they were over 50 years ago. To drive home this message of hope, the Heersink School of Medicine will host an MLK Commemoration, opened by the powerful voices of the Miles College Golden Voices Choir.
The choir has become a cherished part of the commemoration, and their return this year promises to be another highlight. Directed by Valerie Harris, they have become recognized as one of the premier choirs in the nation, performing at renowned events like The Festival of Spirituals and the National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Gospel Competition. They were also featured during the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement Celebration in Birmingham, Alabama, giving a harmonic voice to King’s teachings in the present day.
“As the Miles College Choir, we believe the true beauty of music is that it connects people; it carries a message, and we, the musicians and the singers, are the messengers,” says Harris. “In celebrating the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, we believe it is our responsibility to do as Dr. King did. He expressed his love through words and actions—we express our love by singing music that touches.”
Following their performance, Alabama’s Poet Laureate Ashley M. Jones will present her poem, “Addie, Carole, Cynthia, Denise,” a tribute to the four girls tragically killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing of 1963.
Jones is the Poet Laureate of Alabama (2022–2026), making history as the first person of color and the youngest to hold this position since its creation in 1930. Her work has been featured by CNN, BBC, Good Morning America, ABC News, and The New York Times. Jones is also the Associate Director of the University Honors Program at UAB and the executive director of the Magic City Poetry Festival.
“This holiday means so much to me as a Black person in America—to have one of our heroes nationally recognized and celebrated affirms the importance of Black contributions to this country, and it serves as a reminder that the voice of truth may not always be the dominant voice,” Jones said. “We all have a role to play—everyone isn't Dr. King, but everyone has a responsibility to do what they can to make this country the best it can be.”
This year’s keynote speaker, Lisa McNair, joins us to share her perspective as the oldest living sister of Denise McNair, one of the victims in the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, reflecting on an upbringing shaped by tragedy. Though McNair was born a year after Denise’s passing, she always knew who her sister was, and her parents raised her with a profound understanding of loss without succumbing to anger or hatred.
McNair’s testimony highlights a key theme from Dr. King’s teachings: the path to peace and reconciliation lies in confronting and discussing our painful history. As McNair says, “We must continue to teach history. Only with that can we have full healing.”
To register for the event, click here. Lunch will be served on a first-come, first-serve basis.