Kent State will hold its Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations on Jan. 26 in the Student Center Ballroom, said Evelyn Goldsmith, assistant provost of special projects. She said the events are on this day because it will give students a chance to attend, and it is closer to February, Black History Month.

The theme of the events is Unfinished Journey, referring to the continuing struggle for equality. The events include a high school student essay, poetry and fine arts competition, a dance and musical performance and a panel discussion of community and civic leaders.

The keynote speaker is author and Columbia University Professor Manning Marable. Marable is founding director of the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia.

The Center of Pan-African Culture is hosting Plain Dealer columnist Sam Fulwood III at its next Ebony Speaker Series event at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Mbari Mbayo Lecture Hall of Oscar Ritchie Hall.

– Bryan Wroten