The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Lecture at Hope College will feature Dr. Jemar Tisby, The New York Times bestselling author of 鈥淭he Color of Compromise,鈥� at Hope College on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Dimnent Memorial Chapel in Holland.
Dr. Tisby is a public historian, author, podcaster and professor who explores racial-justice solutions and cultural conversations that compel listeners to action. Tisby鈥檚 lecture is titled: 鈥淟ead Like a King: Jesus, Justice and the Courage to Confront.鈥� He will provide informed perspectives on race, faith and social issues to help others explore racial-justice solutions. He will also invite the audience to step into King鈥檚 story not as history frozen in time, but as a roadmap for leadership today.
The civil rights lecture is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 6:45 p.m., and there will also be a Q&A panel discussion and a book signing with Dr. Tisby following the presentation.
About Dr. Jemar Tisby
Tisby is the CEO and founder of Tisby Media鈥攁n educational studio producing imaginative and creative counterculture to disinformation, social injustice and the politics of fear. He is the author of 鈥淭he Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church鈥檚 Complicity in Racism,鈥� which has been on the bestseller lists with The New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal. He is also the author of 鈥淗ow to Fight Racism,鈥� which won the 2022 ECPA Christian Book Award for Faith and Culture and was an editor鈥檚 pick for 鈥淏est Nonfiction鈥� on Amazon. His latest book, 鈥淭he Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race and Resistance,鈥� was published in September 2024. Tisby is also a co-host of the 鈥淧ass The Mic鈥� podcast, and writes the 鈥淔ootnotes鈥� Substack newsletter, helping audiences across mediums become lifelong advocates for racial justice.
Tisby received his PhD in history at the University of Mississippi where he studied race, religion and social movements in the 20th century. His writing has been featured in The Washington Post, The Atlantic and The New York Times, among others. He is a frequent commentator on outlets such as NPR and 颁狈狈鈥檚 鈥淣ew Day鈥� program.
Jemar Tisby鈥檚 presentation is sponsored by the college鈥檚 Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Culture and Inclusive Excellence, multicultural student organizations, Campus Ministries and Holland community organizations including: Hope Church, IAmAcademy, Maple Avenue Ministries and First United Methodist Church.
Events such as this aim to honor all persons and groups who have worked towards advancing civil rights and social justice, and these events are organized in conjunction with the national commemoration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
To inquire about accessibility or accommodations to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings. Dimnent Memorial Chapel is located at 277 College Ave., at the corner of College Ave. and 12th St.