» Martin Luther King Jr. at Chapman

The History

1961 was the year of the Freedom Rides, in which a group of 13 African-American and white civil rights activists launched a series of bus trips through the American South to protest segregation in interstate bus terminals.  The group encountered tremendous violence, but also drew international attention to their cause.

On December 10, 1961, Dr. King spoke as part of the Artists Lecture Series in Memorial Hall. His speech focused on racial justice and nonviolent resistance.

Just days after speaking at Chapman College, Dr. King was arrested in Georgia along with hundreds of protesters striving to end racial segregation as part of the Albany Movement.  

Read the Chapman Magazine article: Sharing the Dream

"On the anniversary of Dr. King’s speech at Chapman, two alumni tell how that night still impacts their lives."

Read OC Weekly podcast spotlights MLK’s 1961 speech at Chapman


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The Speech

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech at Chapman University on December 10, 1961

Racial justice and nonviolent resistance

You can listen to the full audio of Dr. King's speech in Memorial Hall here.

You can access the full text of the Racial justice and nonviolent resistance here.

Transcripts and a recording that was restored by Professor Paul Apodaca titled Racial justice and nonviolent resistance can also be found in the Leatherby Libraries Special Collections.