On February 10, 1961, the 32-year old Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech on the campus of New York University. Dr. King's speech entitled, “The Future of Integration," advocated for civil rights and nonviolent protest for social change. He said, "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."
Today, though there is a new generation of dedicated individuals that have joined in this commitment, we still find ourselves at a crossroads in this nation and across the globe as we continue to struggle with social and economic disparities. For the eighth-consecutive year, the University will commemorate Dr. King’s visit and his legacy by hosting a week-long schedule of special events and programs. The theme of NYU MLK Week 2013, 50 Years Forward: The Cost of a Dream Deferred, is intended to open up critical dialogue around the consequences of failing to achieve social change and social justice.
