Great Books Virtual Roundtable Discussion

“Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr. and “The African Revolution and Its Impact on Afro-Americans” by Malcom X

The February Great Books Virtual Roundtable Discussion will focus on texts by two central figures in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” written in response to a public statement of concern and caution issued by eight white religious leaders of the South while he was imprisoned as a participant in nonviolent demonstrations against segregation; and Malcolm X’s final lecture at the Harvard Law School Forum, Dec. 16, 1964, on “The African Revolution and Its Impact on Afro-Americans,” offered two months before his assassination.

The discussion will be held on Feb. 25 from 7-9 p.m. via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public. No expertise or prerequisites are required. Participants are asked to read the selected texts ahead of the discussion. Links to the texts are provided below.

Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Letter from Birmingham Jail” (1963)

Malcolm X
“The African Revolution and Its Impact on Afro-Americans” Harvard Law School Forum (Dec. 16, 1964)

Instructions for the Zoom Session

Those planning on attending should inform Head of Special Collections Max Yela at maxyela@uwm.edu. Notices of intent to attend will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Feb. 25. Between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m. on the day of the discussion, Feb. 25, participants will receive an email from Max with a Zoom link to join the discussion.