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MLK Jr. Lounge, Sep. 20, 2024. Photo by Katie Kim.
A Space for Peace
A Space for Peace
by Katie Kim
What does it take for one voice to transform a nation? For Martin Luther King Jr., it was the unwavering belief that justice could be won—not with violence, but with peace. His vision of equality and nonviolence didn’t just challenge the status quo; it redefined what America stood for. It is this legacy and history that's behind the University of Michigan's student lounge named in King's honor.
Dedicated in 1976, the Martin Luther King Jr. Minority Lounge in Bursley Hall is “named after one of the nation’s foremost civil rights leaders" ("Martin Luther King Jr. Minority"). It was created as a space for students to discuss historical issues and remember MLK Jr’s hardships and successes. The lounge emphasizes the importance of inclusivity by celebrating diverse cultures through “lectures, community service projects, cultural events, and marches” ("Martin Luther King Jr. Minority"). In the decade before the lounge was named after him, King visited the university inspiring students in person.
King made an appearance at UM in 1962, where he “gave two public presentations at Hill Auditorium” ("Revisiting"). Additionally, he also had a discussion “with a small group at the Michigan Union” ("Revisiting"), including some members of sororities and fraternities. (King's visit is remembered with an historical marker near the Union.) King's visit to UM came at a critical time in American history, as the country was grappling with the moral, legal, and social implications of segregation and discrimination. Dr. King's presence on campus not only brought these issues to student life but also created universities as spaces for social change (source).
King is widely known as “America’s preeminent advocate of nonviolence and one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history” (“About”). He is most famous for his involvement in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, March on Washington, and “I Have a Dream” speech. Shortly after, King achieved victory in the Civil Rights Movement with “the passage of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Act of 1965” ("Martin"). This legislation outlawed segregation in public places and prohibited employment discrimination “based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin” ("Title").
Martin Luther King Jr. speaks at the podium in Hill Auditorium in 1962. Photo courtesy: All about Ann Arbor.
At birth, MLK was not named Martin, but instead Michael. When he was just five years old, his father, returning from "a religious journey around the world" renamed him "in honor of the Protestant reformation leader" ("5 Things"). Martin is a boy’s name of Latin origin, meaning “dedicated to Mars," according to The Bump, which also emphasizes that Mars, while the Roman god of war and fertility, was "a well-liked and honored member of ancient Roman society." Luther is an "Old German name composed of the elements liut "people" and heri "army" ("Leuthar"). The surname King "generally comes from the Old English cyning, originally meaning 'tribal leader'" ("King Surname"). Martin Luther King Jr. lived up to his name, becoming a reformer and leader of the people.
One of King’s central tenets was the importance of building an inclusive society, and schools like The University of Michigan today strive to create a diverse and welcoming environment for all students. King's message has influenced efforts to promote diversity in education, shaping how young students can learn about the power of community activism. UM annually celebrates King and what he stood for with the MLK Spirit Awards. Additionally, every year on MLK Day in January, the university hosts the "Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium, one of the largest academic celebrations of the leader’s life and legacy in the nation" ("MLK Day").
MLK Jr. Lounge timeline, Sep. 20, 2024. Photo by Katie Kim.
Works Cited
"5 Things to Know: Surprising Facts About Martin Luther King Jr." National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian, nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/5-things-know-surprising-facts#:~:text=1.,when%20it%20was%20officially%20revised. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
“About Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr..” The King Center, 3 Feb. 2022, thekingcenter.org/about-tkc/martin-luther-king-jr/ Accessed 29 September. 2024.
“Jan. 30, 1956: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Home Bombed in Montgomery, Alabama.” Equal Justice Initiative calendar.eji.org/racial-injustice/jan/30 Accessed 29 Sept. 2024.
Kim, Katie. MLK Jr.'s Lounge. 20 Sep. 2024. Author's personal collection.
Kim, Katie. MLK Jr.'s Lounge timeline. 20 Sep. 2024. Author's personal collection.
"King Surname Meaning and Origin." Thought Co, thoughtco.com/king-last-name-meaning-and-origin-1422542.
Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
“Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Movement, U.S. History, Social Justice, Nonviolent Protest, Moral Responsibility, Equality.” Bill of Rights Institute, billofrightsinstitute.org/primary-sources/letter-from-birmingham-jail Accessed 29 Sept. 2024.
"Leuthar." Behind the Name, behindthename.com/name/leuthar. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
"Luther." Behind the Name, behindthename.com/name/leuthar. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
"Martin." The Bump, thebump.com/b/martin-baby-name. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
“Martin Luther King Jr.. Minority Lounge.” Michigan Housing, University of Michigan, housing.umich.edu/cultural-lounge/martin-luther-king-jr-lounge/ Accessed 29 Sept. 2024.
“Martin Luther King, Jr..” NAACP, 13 Jan. 2024, naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/martin-luther-king-jr Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
"MLK Day." UM Library, University of Michigan, lib.umich.edu/visit-and-study/events-and-exhibits/annual-events/mlk-day Accesssed 4 Nov. 2024.
“Read Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech in Its Entirety.” NPR, NPR, 16 Jan. 2023, www.npr.org/2010/01/18/122701268/i-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety. Accessed 29 September. 2024.
“Revisiting Forgotten Images from MLK’s 1962 Visit to U-M.” Human Resources University of Michigan, 6 June 2024, hr.umich.edu/revisiting-forgotten-images-mlks-1962-visit-u-m. https://hr.umich.edu/revisiting-forgotten-images-mlks-1962-visit-u-m Accessed 29 Sept. 2024.
U.S. Mission Korea. "Martin Luther King, Jr.: I Have A Dream Speech." U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the Republic of Korea, 21 Feb. 2017, kr.usembassy.gov/martin-luther-king-jr-dream-speech-1963/. Accessed 29 Sept. 2024.
“Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” EEOC.gov, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, eeoc.gov/statutes/title-vii-civil-rights-act-1964. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.
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