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Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and contemplate the significance and ongoing relevance of his 1963 “Letter from Birmingham Jail” during an in-person, all-day event at Eastern State Penitentiary.
Readings & Discussions:
Listen as guest speakers read excerpts from “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and texts by other civil rights leaders directly impacted by incarceration. The words of Frederick Douglass, Angela Y. Davis, Malcolm X, and Ida B. Wells will illuminate Dr. King’s place within a long lineage of leaders in the struggle for racial equality. Each passage centers around a specific theme and encourages reflection and group discussion. Seating is limited and is first-come, first-served.
- 11:00-11:30 am — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- 12:00-12:30 pm — Reading 2 (TBD)
- 1:00-1:30 pm — Reading 3 (TBD)
- 2:00-2:30 — Reading 4 (TBD)
- 3:00-3:30 pm — Reading 5 (TBD)
- 4:00-4:45 pm — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Guest speakers include Ismael Jimenez (Director of Social Studies Curriculum, School District of Philadelphia; Co-Founder, Philadelphia Black History Collaborative) and Shakaboona Marshall (Co-Founder, Human Rights Coalition; Journalist, Prison Radio). More to be announced.
Family Programming:
From 12:00-2:00 pm, enjoy programming designed with children and their caregivers in mind. Educators will host story times featuring children’s books written by and about civil rights movement leaders. Plus, continue learning with specially designed hands-on activities.
Other Activities:
All day long, visit activity stations to register to vote or write a postcard to someone currently incarcerated in a Pennsylvania prison.
