Department ofAfrican American Studies

Fifty years ago this month, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech to over 8,000 persons in Penn State’s Rec Building. See some of the images from his visit and learn about King’s time at Penn State on January 21, 1965 from University Archivist Jackie Esposito and AfAm Studies Asst. Professor AnneMarie Mingo.

Dr. Martin Luther King came to Penn State and addressed more than 8,000 spectators who packed Recreation Hall to hear the Nobel Peace Prize winner. King used the speaking engagement to make the argument for civil rights through legislation and was also laying the foundation for the Selma march that would take place later that year.