Yolanda King '76

Sadly, Yolanda King died Tuesday at age 51. She was a graduate of the class of 1976 and was honored by Smith during our graduation ceremony in 1999.

From the Smith Press Release:
Yolanda King ’76, daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King, died May 15 in California. An author, performer, and activist, King is being remembered for pursuing her father’s dream of racial harmony through her words and performances. Throughout her career, she appeared in numerous television shows and films, including Ghosts of Mississippi, Odessa, and King, in which she played Rosa Parks. King, who majored in theatre and Afro-American studies, had returned to Smith on numerous occasions to meet with students and talk about her father’s legacy. In 1989, she spoke to more than 1,000 students on campus about what her father tried to achieve and the problems related to race and equality that remained. In 1999, the college honored her, along with a group of other "remarkable women," for her commitment to empowering people to lead better lives.

Alumnae reflect on Yolanda King - AASC Website
Ms. King's 1989 address to students - AASC Website
Smith College Press Release - Smith.edu
A Remembrance of Yolanda King '76 by Prof. Len Berkman
Yolanda King Was More Than King's Daughter - BlackNews.com
Mourning a friend and an ally - Good as You
Public Memorial Planned for Yolanda King - Washington Post
Daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. Dies - NY Times
Yolanda King Blazes Her Own Spiritual Path - WSB-TV Atlanta