"A Long, Long Way": Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 60th Anniversary SMU Visit Commemoration

 

January 22, 2026

6:00pm

 

Event Info

March 17, 1966, was a monumental day in SMU history. It was then that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited campus and gave a nearly one-hour speech to a sold-out McFarlin Auditorium about “The Future of Integration.” In commemoration of Dr. King’s 60th anniversary visit, Social Change and Intercultural Engagement (SCIE) invites the SMU and the local community to an impactful and educational evening in the same venue where he spoke.

The event will be a two-part event: Context and Conversation.

Context (Part 1) will provide a historical narrative, showcasing documents and photos that chronicled his visit, as well as archived high-quality audio excerpts from his speech that night. Conversation (Part 2) will be a moderated panel discussion featuring SMU and local clergy who will reflect on the significance of Dr. King’s visit and speech in 1966, as well as the relevance of his message today, in 2026.  

Moderator: Richie Butler ‘93; Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Project Unity, Senior Pastor of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church

Panelists:

  • Dr. Maria Dixon Hall; Chief Cultural Intelligence Officer and Senior Advisor to the President, Southern Methodist University
  • Reverend Lisa Garvin; Chaplain and Minister to the University,
    Southern Methodist University
  • Dr. Theodore Walker; Associate Professor of Ethics and Society,
    Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

RSVP Now!

 

Doors open at 5:45pm the day of the event.

Event begins at 6:00pm.

 

Parking

Using Uber or Lyft? 6142 Bishop Blvd., Dallas, TX 75205 

 

Permitted & Prohibited items

Permitted
  • Binoculars
  • Bags or soft packs 12" x  6" x 12" or smaller
  • All personal possessions must fit under the patron's designated seat
Prohibited
  • Outside food and beverages.
  • Beverage/liquid filled containers (including thermoses, bota bags or wine skins)
  • Strollers or Stroller Car Seat Combo
  • Personal property that is a potential hazard to others (e.g., chains, wallet chains or jewelry with spiked edges)
  • Weapons or items construed as weapons (e.g., guns, knives, sticks, fireworks)
  • Balloons of all kinds.
  • Audio or video recording devices, professional cameras or cameras with removable lenses
  • McFarlin Auditorium is a smoke-free venue. This includes vapes, Juuls, and all e-cigarette devices. In addition, smoking is prohibited within twenty-five (25) feet of any entrance to building.