Reading the Classics is an opportunity to acquaint oneself with or revisit classic Black literature in an informal yet informative setting. Moderated by Cultural Historian, Michelle Black-Smith, we will come together quarterly to engage with and celebrate the great canon of African American literature. All titles will be available for in-store purchase at least a month in advance, however, we encourage you to join us whether you have read the book or not. Light refreshments will be served and participants will receive a select bibliography of the author's written works.
About Letter From A Birmingham Jail:
The letter from the Birmingham jail of Martin Luther King, Jr.
In Birmingham, Alabama, in the spring of 1963, King’s campaign to end segregation at lunch counters and in hiring practices drew nationwide attention when police turned dogs and fire hoses on the demonstrators. King was jailed along with large numbers of his supporters, including hundreds of schoolchildren. His supporters did not, however, include all the Black clergy of Birmingham, and he was strongly opposed by some of the white clergy who had issued a statement urging African Americans not to support the demonstrations. From the Birmingham jail, King wrote a letter of great eloquence in which he spelled out his philosophy of nonviolence:
You may well ask: “Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn’t negotiation a better path?” You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.
You can purchase the book, Why We Can't Wait, in-store and online.
We look forward to seeing you!
