In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, News 12 explored how Dr. King’s impact was felt in New Jersey. John Johnson, Jr., Ph.D., assistant professor of history, was interviewed for the segment in which he discussed King’s visit to Saint Peter’s on September 22, 1965. Dr. Johnson has conducted multiple research projects that examine the rich history of African American communities in Newark and Jersey City.
During his visit in 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed a crowd of approximately 500 people at the Michaelmas Convocation, an annual ceremony that recognizes Saint Peter’s students for outstanding academic achievement. Dr. King was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, honoris causa, the first offered by a Jesuit college or university to Dr. King.
View the complete segment from News 12.
