Rodmon King. (The Herald/ Submitted Photo)

Rodmon King. (The Herald/ Submitted Photo)

Judge Roy W. King, adjunct lecturer in the department of African-American Studies at the State University of New York, will speak to the Maryville College community on Mon., Jan. 21, during the College’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observances.

In his lecture, King is expected to address the Maryville College Multicultural Center’s yearlong theme of “Smiling Faces Sometimes…: The Changing Face of Discrimination.” It will be presented at 10:30 a.m. in the Clayton Center for the Arts’ Lambert Recital Hall. The event, which is sponsored by the Black Student Alliance and the Maryville College Multicultural Center, is free and open to the public.

“This year’s MC multicultural theme gives us a foundation to explore the progress and the setbacks that our nation faces today,” said Larry Ervin, director of multicultural affairs at Maryville College. “There are so many facets to this open-ended proclamation that anyone could find food for thought around this ever changing, ongoing issue.”

The event will also include a performance by the Maryville College Voices of Praise gospel choir, as well as poetry readings by students.

In addition to Judge Roy King’s Jan. 21 presentation, his son, Dr. Rodmon King, will return to Maryville College again this year to present lectures and facilitate conversations with students and faculty on Jan. 18-19.

Rodmon King, assistant professor of philosophy at Hobart & William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y., is dedicated to empowering individuals to become agents of social change. His current research focuses on the intersection between normative virtue ethics and social justice. In the past, he has given workshops on diversity, activism and racial privilege for the G.L.I.M.P.S.E. Diversity Student Leadership Conference. For the past seven years, King has served as the faculty advisor to Sankofa: the Black Student Union at Hobart & William Smith Colleges.

Judge Roy King received his B.A. from Drake University, J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law and M.A. in theological studies from Northeastern Seminary. He was a practicing attorney in the City of Rochester from 1965 until 1996, serving in several positions, such as City Court Judge and Supervising Judge of the City Court of Rochester. Currently, he acts as assistant pastor and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New Progressive Cathedral Church of God in Christ in Rochester, N.Y.

 “Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Judge Roy W. King and Rodmon King have traveled far emotionally and intellectually, accomplishing great feats and receiving great recognition to come share with us their treasures,” Ervin said. “In this season of reflection, celebration and challenge, we need wise men who will spare no expense and face all danger to follow that star of hope and equality.”

For more information on the College’s MLK Day observances, contact Ervin at 865.981.8222 or larry.ervin@maryvillecollege.edu.

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