Speaker, play to highlight Martin Luther King Jr. celebration

Martin Luther King Jr. knew the steps toward equality and justice would be long and winding, but well worth pursuing.

"Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals," King wrote. 'Without persistent effort, time itself becomes an ally of the insurgent and primitive forces of irrational emotionalism and social destruction. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is the time for vigorous and positive action."

Those steps will be continued with two public events during the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Week Jan. 19-23 at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.

Michael Benitez, a nationally known social justice educator and activist-scholar, will deliver a speech at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, SJU. He will speak on "The Time is Always Now: Upholding Legacies of Activism and Diversity Leadership in 21st Century America," and the presentation is free and open to the public.

Benitez has served in higher education for 15 years at multiple institutions in different capacities, including teaching, academic affairs, student affairs, and diversity and inclusion. He presently serves as the dean of diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington.

Known for his down-to-earth, insightful commentary and critical perspectives on social and cultural issues, Benitez integrates multifaceted pedagogies, scholarly inquiry and personal experience to provide multi-context and multi-issue frameworks for empowerment in transformation in education.

Benitez often collaborates with leading scholars and activists in the field of anti-oppression and social justice education, addressing issues related to diversity and multiculturalism, identity formations and race and ethnic relations.

The Mixed Blood Theatre will present the play "African American" by Warren Bowles at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 at the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater. The performance is free and open to the public.

"African America" is about the surprising appearance of a charming, magical African, which leads a modern biracial couple to a better understanding and appreciation of the experience of immigrants from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Liberia and helps them consider how to connect with and celebrate one's heritage.

Mixed Blood Theatre is a professional, multi-racial company based in Minneapolis which promotes cultural pluralism and individual equality through artistic excellence, using theater to address artificial barriers that keep people from succeeding in American society. The company is performing the production across the region from Jan. 19-Feb. 22.