As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the St. Stephen’s community reflects on Ms. King’s 1981 graduation address.

At just 25 years of age, activist Yolanda King, the eldest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., delivered the riveting and heartfelt 1981 graduation address on The Hill on May 30. Prior to the school adopting its current tradition of students voting on a faculty and student commencement speaker, St. Stephen’s frequently invited notable graduation speakers. 

King’s 20-minute address was recorded on a cassette tape and transcribed in the July 1981 issue of the “St. Stephen’s Bulletin,” the predecessor to today’s “Spartan Magazine.” In her remarks, King congratulated graduates on completing an education rooted in Christian values, while expressing concern that society’s rapid technological progress had not been matched by moral or spiritual growth. 

“In far too many instances, we have lost touch with the important values that are necessary to insure complete life,” King told graduates. In far too many instances, we have become lazy.”

She also warned that education too often teaches people how to memorize and succeed materially rather than to think critically, live meaningfully or care for others. Despite humanity’s remarkable achievements by the early 1980s — from global communication to space travel — King said the world remained plagued by violence, greed, inequality and unhappiness. Quoting her father, she said humanity had failed to learn “the simple art of living together,” urging graduates to pursue lives grounded in love, service and purpose rather than materialism and complacency.

“You have a choice. I urge you to make the right choice,” said King. “Reach out, reach out and touch somebody’s hand and make this world a better place, because we can.”

At the time, King had already earned a master's degree in theater from New York University. She was producing and performing plays with Attallah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X, and also dedicating herself to advancing her late father’s message through the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change.

Philip Doig ’81, now dean of the Upper School, was one of 54 graduates seated in the Chapel on that rainy May day. He remembers being moved by the entire experience.

“There was a feeling of excitement that she was here and overall sense of respect,” said Doig.  “It was also a very exciting day in general.”

Photography instructor and campus photographer Chris Caselli ’82 was 16 at the time and said King’s message left a lasting impression and contributed to his personal views.

“I remember being exceptionally impressed that we had such a significant and famous person speaking at our school,” said Caselli.

King devoted the remainder of her speech to the urgent need for nonviolence as a way of life — not only in war, but in everyday relationships and social systems. She defined violence broadly to include selfishness, greed and indifference, and presented nonviolence, rooted in love, justice and goodwill, as the only path to lasting peace and social transformation.

Drawing on the successes of Mahatma Gandhi’s movement in India and the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, King acknowledged progress while emphasizing that much work remained, particularly in addressing poverty, unemployment and misplaced national priorities. She challenged graduates to recognize their individual responsibility in shaping society, reminding them that collective change begins with personal choices, and urging them to actively choose love, nonviolence and moral courage to help build a more just and humane world.

Read Yolanda King's 1981 graduation address on May 30, 1981

Listen to Yolanda King's speech

Martin Luther King Jr. Day at St. Stephen’s
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is traditionally a day "on" at St. Stephen's, with students, faculty and staff participating in programming centered on a theme. This year’s theme is “Unity Through Love.”

On Monday, January 19, 2026, faculty, staff and students will engage in hands-on activities and learn from guest speakers and performers on campus. The goal is to bring the community together, inspired by the life of The Rev. Dr. King, and to advance the school's mission and commitment to honoring and respecting the dignity of all humans.

Learn more about MLK Day at St. Stephen’s

Learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion at St. Stephen’s