The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observance will kick off Coastal Carolina University's annual African-American Celebration on Friday, Jan. 18. The event is free and open to the public.

The community is invited to help form a "Peace Circle" at noon on Prince Lawn on Coastal's campus. The Coastal Carolina University Gospel Choir, under the direction of Sheryl Ward, will perform.

Guest speaker James Henderson, professor of international studies at Coastal, will present "The Relevance of Dr. King's Message Today." Henderson, who has taught at Coastal for 15 years, served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia and worked in the Civil Rights movement in California, Louisiana and Mississippi during the summer of 1964.

In the case of inclement weather, the events will be held in the Recital Hall of the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts Building.

Coastal's African-American Celebration, which will be held throughout the 2002 spring semester, offers a variety of events which examine the art, history, music and cultural achievement of African-Americans.

For more information, contact Coastal's Office of Multicultural Student Services at 349-2863.