Albion College invites students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to gather for the 2026 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation featuring Dr. Derrick P. Alridge, a nationally recognized scholar of U.S. educational history specializing in African American education and the civil rights movement. Dr. Alridge will deliver a keynote address titled “Teachers as Footsoldiers in the Civil Rights Movement” on Monday, January 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the historic Bohm Theatre. This year’s theme, Teaching the Dream, honors Dr. King’s legacy by centering the vital role Black educators played—and continue to play—in advancing justice and equality. The event is free and open to the public.

Presented in partnership with the Albion Branch NAACP, the convocation continues a cherished Albion tradition of reflection, dialogue, and action. A former middle and high school teacher and director of the Teachers in the Movement Oral History Project, Dr. Alridge brings more than 500 interviews and decades of scholarship to illuminate educators’ impact within the Civil Rights Movement—inviting all in attendance to consider how teaching remains a powerful force for change today.

Shuttle Service for Students
To support student attendance​ during this cold weather, a shuttle will depart from the Ferguson parking lot beginning at 6:30 p.m. and will return to campus following the event.

Visit albion.edu/mlk for a complete list of speakers and special guests.