41st Annual Madison & Dane County MLK Day Observance

Marc Lamont Hill is a nationally recognized scholar, author, and media commentator whose work champions racial justice, education, and global solidarity. He serves as Presidential Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and founded The People’s Education Center and Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books, blending academic insight with grassroots activism. He has hosted programs on BET and HuffPost Live, contributed to CNN and MSNBC, authored eight influential books, and has been named one of Ebony’s 100 most influential Black leaders.

Hill’s connection to Dr. King’s legacy runs deep. He has delivered keynote addresses for MLK commemorations at institutions such as Milton Academy and the University of Michigan and spoken at events like Princeton Theological Seminary’s “The Power of Protest: From Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter.” In recent years, Hill has urged audiences to honor King through radical action and resistance, emphasizing that true tribute means continuing the fight for justice. His layered engagement with MLK’s legacy ensures an inspiring and highly relevant 2026 MLK Day celebration.

The program will also feature the MLK Community Choir and presentation of the 2026 MLK Humanitarian Awards by Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Dane County Executive Melissa Agard.