MLK celebration at Penn State to include talk by Cornel West

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State’s celebration of the life and message of Martin Luther King Jr. will include a talk by Cornel West on Friday, Jan. 20, in Schwab Auditorium.

West, a professor of philosophy and Christian practice at Union Theological Seminary and professor emeritus at Princeton University, will speak during the evening celebration, which begins at 6 p.m.

The theme for the 2017 MLK Jr. Commemoration is “When Silence Becomes Betrayal.” Inspired by the words of King, the theme is a reminder for Penn Staters to use their voices in the face of injustice. The hashtag #ISpokeUpWhen will be used to allow faculty, staff and students to be recognized for times they spoke up for others.

West has also taught at Yale, Harvard and the University of Paris. A graduate of Harvard, he earned a master’s degree and doctorate from Princeton. He has written more than 20 books, including “Race Matters,” “Democracy Matters” and his memoir, “Brother West: Living Loving Out Loud.”

Free tickets can be reserved by visiting www.eventbrite.com and searching on “MLK Celebration Penn State Cornel West.” The maximum number of tickets per individual is two. 

Other MLK Jr. Commemoration events include the 42nd Memorial Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, in The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, and ‘Silence Interrupted: A Talent Showcase and Social Justice Reception’ from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the HUB’s Heritage Hall. 

For more information, visit https://mlk.psu.edu/schedule-of-events/.