NAACP President Derrick Johnson to Deliver MLK Keynote at UMW

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, will deliver the Martin Luther King Jr. keynote address at the University of Mary Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The event, co-sponsored by UMW’s NAACP College Chapter and Germanna Community College, will take place at 7 p.m. in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom.

Johnson, who has led the NAACP since 2017, is expected to emphasize the importance of community service, democracy, and celebrating diversity. “We all have a mutual obligation to support our neighbor and recognize that our collective uniqueness is our strength,” Johnson said. “Our uniqueness is our genius, and we should celebrate that genius.”

The keynote is part of a weeklong celebration honoring King’s legacy. Johnson’s leadership has reinvigorated the NAACP, with campaigns addressing healthcare disparities, voting rights, and technology inequities. Notable initiatives include the 2018 “Log Out” campaign targeting Facebook disinformation and the 2020 “We Are Done Dying” campaign highlighting racial disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johnson expressed enthusiasm for engaging with students, stating, “I always enjoy talking to students. In this moment, we need to build the bench of more critical thinkers, and what better way to do so than to engage with students.”

The event is free and open to the public, offering an opportunity for the community to reflect on King’s enduring impact and Johnson’s advocacy for justice and equality.