2024 MLK Commemorative Celebration ft. Xernona Clayton

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion presented a week-long celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The events throughout the week were designed to facilitate both reflection and action toward a better appreciation of and respect for the dignity of every person. The 2024 MLK Commemorative Celebration featured a moderated conversation with Xernona Clayton. Xernona Clayton has led civic projects and civil rights activities for decades, beginning in 1965 when she accepted a position with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and worked closely with the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She also coordinated the activities of Atlanta’s Black doctors with the Doctors’ Committee for Implementation, which resulted in the desegregation of all hospital facilities in Atlanta. Her persistent and compassionate fight against prejudice and bigotry was never more apparent than in 1968, when a Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan denounced the Klan and credited Xernona’s influence with his change. Professionally, Ms. Clayton was a trailblazer in the media industry, eventually becoming an executive with Turner Broadcasting. She went on to found the Trumpet Foundation an organization that celebrates “the best in African American excellence and achievement.”