Black History

D.C. Libraries Host Events to Honor Dr. King

THE AFRO — D.C. Public Libraries have a week full of events and resources for every ages in celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Published

7 years ago

January 13, 2019

Stephanie Cornish

By George Kevin Jordan

D.C. Public Libraries have a week full of events and resources for every ages in celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Week is January 13-20, and libraries all across the District have events slated.

King was arguably one of the most famous civil rights leader in America and the world. Born in Atlanta, GA, he used his intellect, wit and oratory skill to push for equality for Blacks in the 50s and 60s.

Just a few of his noteworthy moments include his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to make MLK Jr. Day a federal holiday in 1983. As a result the United States now commemorates the day annually every third Monday in January.

Here are some of the highlighted D.C. Public Library events:

Tuesday, Jan. 15

Martin Luther King Birthday Story Time

11:15 a.m. at the Takoma Park Library, 416 Cedar St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20012

This story time event is designed for children 3-5, and runs about 30-40 minutes. Kids and adults will participate in reading and learning activities to help develop a love for learning.

Later that evening it’s a night of films as the Georgetown Library, 3260 R St. N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20007, presents “Citizen King” a PBS documentary about the last five years of Dr. King’s beginning at 6 p.m.

Over at Tenley-Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016, there will be a screening of Ava DuVernay’s biopic film about King “Selma.” This film also begins at 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 16

The Cleveland Park Library will host “The March on Washington: A discussion with Jamie Stiehm and Clarence Page” at 7 p.m. 3310 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008. Page is a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the Chicago Tribune, and Stiehm is a writer for the Creator’s Syndicate. Both will discuss the day when Dr. King Jr. gave his most famous speech.

Saturday, Jan. 19

Author Paula Young Shelton, daughter of civil rights leader Andrew Young, will read from her children’s book “Child of the Civil Rights Movement” at 12 p.m. Saturday at the Northeast Library, 330 7th St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002. Shelton will talk about her time growing up around civil rights leaders. She is currently the writer in residence at Georgetown Day School.

Along with a host of events, D.C. Public Library has a slew of books to recommend on Dr. King’s life and the Civil Rights Movement including: “The Autobiography of Martin Luther King,” by King himself, “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin, and “The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement” by Taylor Branch. All are available for checkout at on the library branches.

D.C. Libraries also has a Black Studies Center, The African American Studies Center, and access to four African American newspaper databases including the Baltimore Afro-American.

For a full calendar of events please go to www.DCLibrary.org. All events are free and open to the public.

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

Stephanie Cornish

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of May 6 – 12, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of may 6 – 12, 2026

Published

3 days ago

May 10, 2026

Oakland Post

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Activism

On the Frontlines of Hate: NAACP Links Victims to Critical Support

The NAACP CA/HI has a long and well-established record of supporting victims of discrimination and hate crimes — providing critical referrals and, when necessary, direct assistance through legal advocacy and other forms of support. Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 1, 2026

Oakland Post

NAACP members at a recent advocacy day in Sacramento urging lawmakers to protect voting rights. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

By Joe Kocurek
California Black Media

The California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP (CA/HI NAACP) has expanded its efforts to respond to rising hate incidents and civil rights complaints across California, supported in part by funding from California’s Stop the Hate Program

Through that grant, NAACP CA/HI has strengthened its ability to connect individuals experiencing hate or discrimination with critical resources. This includes referring those who file complaints to the CA vs Hate hotline, a statewide, non-emergency hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal created to help counter a more than 50% increase in reported hate crimes in California between 2020 and 2024. The system helps ensure incidents are documented, and victims are guided toward appropriate support.

LaJuana Bivens says the work of NAACP is as urgent as ever. Photo by Regina Wilson, California Black Media.

LaJuana Bivens, who has served in a number of roles within the NAACP, said California has seen an increase in civil rights violations and hate-related incidents.

“We have 52 branches, and they are constantly receiving complaints,” she said. “So, without the Stop the Hate, we would not be able to refer those cases up to attorneys at the state level. A lot of the people would not have had an opportunity to be heard.”

Carmen-Nicole Cox helps survivors of hate with their legal options. Photo courtesy of Carmen-Nicole Cox.

Carmen-Nicole Cox, an attorney who works with NAACP CA/HI – as a part of California’s Stop the Hate Program – provides legal consultation to victims of hate incidents and discrimination through her legal practice, the Cox Firm for Law and Policy.

She said the complaints she receives span a wide range of issues.

“People are having home builders and landlords refusing to provide repairs, a student was denied promotion in an academic program, and targeted scrutiny at work,” she said. “It’s typically employment; it’s housing; it’s education.

“We’ll meet and they’ll share their experiences,” she said. “And then I make assessments about possible legal claims.”

According to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), nearly 1,200 reports of hate against minority groups were submitted in 2024 through the CA vs Hate hotline and online portal for non-emergency incidents.

While the California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP, which has tens of thousands of members, does not directly investigate hate incidents or crimes, it plays a key role in connecting victims to the state’s reporting systems and support services.

Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Bivens recently traveled to Sacramento to speak with state lawmakers about voting rights during an advocacy day event hosted by the organization.

“It’s just so hard for communities of color to be up to date because of all of the confusing information coming from the federal level,” she said. “I love our great state of California because here it is possible to vote by mail and to vote early.

“And I’m seeing that trying to be eroded. So, I’m here to urge continued support for vote by mail and early voting.”

When Texas moved to redraw congressional districts in ways critics said would dilute minority voting strength, NAACP CA/HI supported the passage of Proposition 50 in California. The organization also intervened in United States v. Shirley Weber, where federal officials sought access to unredacted California voter records, including Social Security numbers, raising concerns about misuse and voter intimidation.

Cultivating the advocacy and leaderships of young people is central to NAACP’s mission to fight racism and dismantle inequality. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

A federal district court dismissed that case in January 2026.

The organization’s current work builds on a long history of civil rights advocacy. Today, Bivens says, the organization’s mission remains as urgent as ever.

“We are the oldest, boldest, most feared Civil Rights organization,” Bivens said. “What we do every day is fight for better housing, education, economic development and political inclusion. We take it on because there are just so many people who need that support.

“You would be amazed that our phones ring every single day.”

Get Support After Hate:

California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. PT, or online at any time. Anonymous. Confidential. No Police. No ICE.

This story was produced in partnership with CA vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11. More information at www.cavshate.org/summit.

https://youtu.be/_k7UVhI-sN8