August 28, 2013 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech, which was delivered before the Lincoln Memorial as the keynote address of the 1963 March on Washington, D.C. for Civil Rights. Princeton University encourages its community and others to reflect upon King's life, legacy and charge to Americans to help humanity evolve. In the famous speech, King said:
We've come to our nation's capital to cash a check....We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now.
The Annual Celebration
Princeton University held its annual celebration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 on campus in Richardson Auditorium of Alexander Hall. News coverage and a webcast of the 2013 program will be available.
Annual literary, visual arts and video contests are open to students in New Jersey grades 4 through 12. This year's contests focus on the importance society places on identity and the ways in which those assumptions can impact individual lives. Recognizing the inherent value in respecting and valuing individuals for who they are, students should identify a personal characteristic or trait which might cause some to make assumptions and others to feel isolated, and propose ways in which individuals can take action to overcome differences and foster inclusion.
Full contest guidelines are available here.
