UB to honor 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to Buffalo

By Marcene Robinson

Release Date: November 3, 2017 This content is archived.

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“The audience will hear passages from Dr. King’s historic address in his rich, resonant voice, and be challenged by the speakers to grasp the relevance of Dr. King’s message to the structural racism, segregation and poverty that continue to plague Buffalo and the nation. ”
Teresa Miller, professor and vice provost for inclusive excellence at UB

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Nearly 50 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. traveled to Buffalo to deliver a historic speech on racial integration.

On Thursday, the University at Buffalo will honor his visit with MLK@Buffalo, a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of King’s UB-sponsored speech at Kleinhans Music Hall.

The event, free and open to the public, will invite scholars and prominent figures from the UB and Buffalo communities – including an attendee of the 1967 visit – to reflect on specific passages from King’s speech delivered decades ago.

The program is scheduled on Thursday, Nov. 9, from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Student Union Theater on the North Campus. A reception will follow in 201 Student Union.

Guest speakers include:

  • Ruth Bryant, an attendee of King’s 1967 speech and retired assistant dean, UB School of Architecture and Planning
  • Devonya Havis, PhD, associate professor, Department of Philosophy, Canisius College
  • Scott Hollander, associate director, UB Libraries
  • George Nicholas, senior pastor, Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church
  • Leslie Veloz, president, UB Undergraduate Student Association
  • Victoria Wolcott, PhD, professor and chair, Department of History, UB College of Arts and Sciences

The discussion will be hosted by Teresa Miller, JD, professor and vice provost for inclusive excellence at UB; and Austin Booth, vice provost for University Libraries.

MLK@Buffalo is sponsored by the UB Office of Inclusive Excellence, UB Libraries and the UB Intercultural and Diversity Center.

“The audience will hear passages from Dr. King’s historic address in his rich, resonant voice, and be challenged by the speakers to grasp the relevance of Dr. King’s message to the structural racism, segregation and poverty that continue to plague Buffalo and the nation,” says Miller.

King’s address, titled “The Future of Integration,” was delivered on Nov. 9, 1967, and would be his final speech in Buffalo. During the visit, which was sponsored by the UB Student and Graduate Student Associations, the renowned civil rights activist touched on both the Vietnam War and poverty.

Media Contact Information

Marcene Robinson is a former staff writer in University Communications. To contact UB's media relations staff, email ub-news@buffalo.edu or visit our list of current university media contacts.