Oxford Teens Invited to Participate in Jan. 13 Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Oxford teenagers are invited to participate in a public reading of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in a special presentation at 5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 13, at Off Square Books.
Square Books honored King last January with a community reading of the letter, led by University of Mississippi Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter and Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat, as well as former William Winter Institute Director Susan Glisson, UM Athletic Director Ross Bjork, 2^nd Baptist Church Pastor Andrew Robinson, author Alysia Steele, Mayor Robyn Tannehill, Charles Tucker and Valerie and Chuck Ross.
King composed “Letter from Birmingham Jail” after police arrested him during a civil rights protest in Birmingham on April 12, 1963. It was a forceful theological and humane response to a letter from a group of white Alabama clergy members, published in a newspaper, who had openly criticized King for his methods and perceived impatience during a crucial early period of the civil rights movement.
“Recognizing that the holiday celebrating the life of MLK is not only a time to reflect on the past, but a time to plan and hope for the better future he envisioned, we are encouraging the teens of our community, the embodiment of that future, to take the lead in performing the reading this year,” Square Books said in a press release.
Square Books owner Richard Howorth added, “King began writing the letter in the margins of a newspaper in which the ministers’ letter had appeared, and it is considered to be one of the great literary documents of American history. We are excited to help the community remember and celebrate the life of this great man.”
For further information, contact Sam McAlilly at Square Books by calling 662-236-2262 or emailing sam@squarebooks.com.

---

Special to HottyToddy.com.