Saturday, January 9, 2010

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Events @ Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library



The District of Columbia Public Library is sponsoring a wide variety of events in honor and memory of the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Social Sciences Division will host a film series beginning in January 11th at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library  on the 2nd Floor, East Lobby, outside Room 220.

Citizen King    January 11th @ 3pm
Citizen King traces Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s efforts to recast himself by embracing causes beyond the Civil Rights movement, by becoming a champion of the poor and an outspoken opponent of the war in Vietnam. Tapping into a rich archive of photographs, film footage and eyewitness accounts, this film brings fresh insights to King’s journey, his charismatic leadership and truly remarkable impact.

King Man of Peace in a Time of War  January 12th @ 3pm
Is a fascinating and revealing look at the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., filtered through the prism of the major conflicts: the struggle between black and white America, divisiveness within the Civil Rights movement itself and the war in Vietnam? This film includes archival footage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and exclusive interviews with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Quincy Jones, and others.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Historical Perspective. January 13th @ Noon
Dr. King is one of the most respected and admired civil rights and human rights leader in American history. He is know worldwide for his perseverance and dedication to peaceful nonviolent action to effect social and political outcomes. Dr. King was the conscience of the civil rights struggle and became a heroic martyr for the movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Historical Perspective offers a one-of-the-kind examination of Dr. King's extraordinary life. This documentary uses rare and largely unseen film footage and photographs. Writer and director, Tom Friedman explores how Dr. King's ideas, thoughts, and causes evolved in the face of the rapidly changing climate of the Civil Rights Movement.

At the River I Stand  January 14th @ Noon
This documentary reconstructs two eventful months in Memphis in 1968 leading to the tragic death of  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. Additionally, it documents how the Memphis' Black community rallied behind a strike by grossly underpaid sanitation workers. Dr. King saw an opportunity to link struggle to his growing, nationwide Poor People's Campaign and challenge the economic power structure of the South.

Lectures

Sunday, January 17 at 1:30 p.m.
Paula Young Shelton, daughter of Andrew Young, former United Nations Ambassador, Civil Rights Activist Robert Artisst, former Freedom Rider Rev. Reginald M. Green and others around the city share stories of Dr. King and what he may have thought about current issues if he were alive today.

To view additional Martin Luther King, Jr. related events at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library or throughout the DC Public Library please check out this link http://www.dclibrary.org/node/2423

You can read more about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr by reviewing a list of books in the Social Sciences Division's  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. : A Select Bibliography .

2 comments:

  1. 4 days before Dr. King was slain, he was urging people to join a poor people's campaign - something the world is still in drastic need of today. You can download a free inspirational flyer about this - with King's own words, and compare the state of humanity then, and now - more than 40 years later. King's words couldn't be more relevant. Here's the link to the flyer. To honor King's legacy we've got to bring his words to others. Please pass it on.

    Link to Martin Luther King Jr. Flyer

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  2. I did a podcast with the artist Matthew Thompson last year about Resurrection City and the Poor People's Campaign. It is here: http://dclibrary05.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=444690

    **please disregard my deer in the headlights look and my haircut**

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