Dear Students and Colleagues,
On behalf of the dean’s office, I am honored to welcome you to the start of a new semester.
Although 2022 carries with it daunting challenges, the new year also ferries in opportunities for growth and inspiration. On January 17th, we share the joy of celebrating the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whom we honor each January. This holiday is an opportunity to listen, read, and be inspired by Dr. King’s words, and to reflect upon his vision and legacy.
A Baptist minister, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., dedicated his life to the causes of justice, equity, and love, principles he described as foundational to the forging of a “Beloved Community.” His vision for society included eradicating the “disease of racism,” the proliferation of war, and the scourge of poverty. We remember Dr. King for his leadership and his commitment to nonviolent protest and direct action campaigns during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. His gifts as a writer, minister, and orator can be heard in this extraordinary sermon, given at the National Cathedral, “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution” (3/31/1968), just days before his assassination. Dr. King’s ideas and words, “The time is always right to do what is right,” continue to inspire generations committing themselves to racial and economic justice and a future of living in peace with one another.
This year’s holiday has special resonance for the Curtis community thanks to the All-School Project, The Civil Rights Era and the Music of Change. Many classes, projects, and performances will highlight the music, art, history, social, cultural, and political changes that grew out of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
We hope that the LibGuide below, curated by Dr. Pete Williams, will be of value to each community member on this day of celebration.
Sincerely,
Jeanne M. McGinn,
Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams Jr. Chair of Liberal Arts
Senior Associate Dean, Academics
Poetry and the Civil Rights Movement
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/146367/poetry-and-the-civil-rights-movement
Philadelphia MLK Day of Service information:
https://mlkdayofservice.org/
WHYY article about Philly's MLK Day of Service:
https://whyy.org/articles/phillys-mostly-virtual-mlk-day-of-service-to-explore-theme-of-combating-racism-and-building-community/
PBS collection of videos to explore Dr. King's legacy:
http://www.pbs.org/black-culture/explore/martin-luther-king-jr/#.Wk-1ESOZOu5
WHYY audio piece, in interview with Rev. Dr. Chaz Howard of UPenn:
https://whyy.org/articles/daring-put-legs-faith-inspiration-mlk/
And its companion piece:
https://whyy.org/segments/fighting-love-age-hate/
Short Atlantic article about King's anti-poverty work:
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/08/martin-luther-kings-economic-dream-a-guaranteed-income-for-all-americans/279147/
Short piece written by John Lewis in reflection:
https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/spring-2008/reflections-on-a-dream-deferred
Short article with linked resources on MLK at BlackPast:
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/king-martin-luther-jr-1929-1968/
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For more, see also:
the Curtis Library guide to Anti-racism and Social Justice resources: https://libguides.curtis.edu/socialjustice
And the guide to the 2021-2023 All-School Project, The Civil Rights Movement and the Music of Change: https://libguides.curtis.edu/civilrightsera