Highline Community College's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week is one of the college's biggest events and features nationally known authors and scholars discussing a variety of topics, including diversity, politics and the legacy of Dr. King.

This year's event includes an exhibit featuring local social activists and revolutionaries who played a significant role in the civil rights movement in Washington state. The exhibit is on display throughout the week in the Highline Student Union.

The activities will take place Jan. 19- 22 at the college's main campus, 2400 S. 240th St. in Des Moines. They are free and open to the public.

The events are sponsored by HCC's Center for Leadership & Service, Multicultural Services and Learning & Teaching Center.
Highline College has the most diverse population of any college in Washington state,

Events include:

Tuesday, Jan. 19:

Dream Fulfilled? The Legacy of Dr. King in an Obama Age, 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., Building 7.

Dedrick Muhammad, of the Institute of Policy Studies, examines the socio-economic status of African Americans, the progress since the time of Dr. King and the prospects of African Americans under the Obama presidency.

Cradle to Prison Pipeline, 11 a.m., Highline Student Union, Mt. Constance Room

Celestine Lanier-McClary, of the Black Child Development Institute, explores the link between education and the criminal justice system and examines the risk factors related to people of color in the criminal justice system.

Wednesday, Jan. 20

Why are Poor People Poor?, 9 a.m., Highline Student Union, Mt. Constance Room

Dustin Washington and John Page, both of the Community Justice Program at the American Friends Service Committee, explore the roots of class inequality. Washington and Page participate in extensive work around anti-racism and social justice advocacy in the Seattle area.

Workshop: Environmental Justice and You!, 10 a.m., Building 7

Community Coalition to Environmental Justice presents information about the environmental justice movement, which considers how certain populations are targeted and polluted on purpose, specifically people of color and low-income communities.

Music and Liberation, 12:10 p.m., Highline Student Union, Mt. Constance Room

Local activists and musicians from difference genres of music explore how social change, activism and music intersect. A follow-up discussion of how music was, can and is used for activism will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Highline Student Union's Leadership Resource Room.

Thursday, Jan. 21

Inter-Minority Racisms and Cross-Racial Identifications: _The Role of Hip-Hop in Shaping Contemporary Asian/Black Relations in the U.S., 9 a.m., Building 7

Professor Nitasha Sharma, a professor of African American and Asian American studies at Northwestern University, analyzes the political potential of hip-hop for framing Asian American and African American relations in the U.S. Dr. Sharma also discusses how some Asian American youth use hip-hop to articulate their racial identities and politics.

Poetry Workshop, 11 a.m., Building 2

Workshop takes participants through exercises that demonstrate how poetry can be used as a platform of expression.
Open Mic. Poetry, 7 p.m., Highline Student Union, Mt. Constance Room

Laura "Piece" Kelly opens an evening of poetry for anyone wishing to share their poetry in a like-minded environment. Co-sponsored by Freshest Roots.

Friday, Jan. 22

Freedom When? Race and Labor, Then and Now, 10 a.m., Building 7

Dr. David Roediger, a professor of African American Studies at University of Illinois, examines from periods of slavery and conquest to current workplace traditions, to suggest that keeping people apart has been key to overworking and underpaying them.

Movie Fridays: 'Slam,' 12:30 p.m., Building 7

This 1998 Sundance Film Festival award winner tells the story of a young man whose talent for poetry is hampered by his social background.

For more information, log on to www.highline.edu/stuserv/programs/mlkweek.htm