Rachel Howzell Hall
January 24, 2025

36th Annual MLK Day Celebration

Best-selling author Rachel Howzell Hall delivers MLK Day keynote

While some schools take the day off to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Phillips Academy has proudly taken the day on for 36 years. Student empowerment was the genesis of this long-standing tradition, and it remains central today.

Rachel Howzell Hall, the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She’s Gone, gave the keynote address at the school’s celebration on Monday. A past member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast, Howzell Hall writes mysteries and crime novels depicting the Black experience in Los Angeles.

Speaking to the campus community, Howzell Hll presented her, “10 Commandments for Every Aspiring Storyteller,” invoking King's teachings and quotes. Howzell Hall signed books and had lunch with students before the community participated in student-led workshops, performances, film screenings, and professional development opportunities.

Taking The Day On

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