Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at the Library

The community is invited to participate as the Evanston Public Library honors Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 20, with activities, talks and performances by and for all ages.

1:30-3:30 pm, Childrens Room, Main Library

Children and their families can celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Childrens Room. Create a Peace Tree craft and add to the “I Have a Dream Wall.” At 2 pm, there will be a screening of two inspiring DVDs of two of the Library's favorite Martin Luther King Jr. picture books: Martin’s Big Words and March On. Then, at 3 pm, Reverend Eddie Reeves’ will present Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream Speech”.  Reverend Reeves, is a resident of Evanston and attended the Evanston public schools. He has been performing his oral interpretation of this speech and many other Dr. King speeches for audiences and in competitions across the Chicagoland area since he was a teenager. Reeves is a Custodial Engineer at the Joseph E. Hill Education Center.

3:30 pm, Lobby, Main Library

Watch and enjoy Evanston Public Library's teen theater troupe from The Loft as they perform The Words of Dr. King: A Choral Chant. This original work is based on the writings and speeches of Dr. King. Drawing from texts like King's "Why We Can't Wait" as well as the "Mountaintop" speech and others, this "choral chant" is arranged by teens and emphasizes themes of justice and democracy. It will also feature several elements of surprise for the audience. The piece will be performed 4 times on the half hour between 3:30 and 5:30 pm. First performance starts at 3:30 pm.

Teens in grades 7-12 who would like to perform in this unique piece are welcome to join by contacting Jarrett at jdapier@cityofevanston.org before January 2.

6-8 pm, Community Room, Main Library

The Evanston Art Center in conjunction with Insight Arts hosts a presentation and discussion to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Keith Brown and Craig Harshaw will lead this program that seeks to situate the legacy of King through our current visual and political culture. Together we will watch The "Mountaintop" Speech, an interview excerpt from James Baldwin, Sherrilyn Ifill's address to Scott Walker, and view works by two contemporary artists.

Screening:

-1968 "Mountaintop" Speech delivered April 3, 1968 at the Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ -Headquarters) in Memphis, Tennessee (23 minutes)

-James Baldwin’s 1963 interview on the Kenneth Clark Show (7 minutes)

-Sherrilyn Ifill Law Professor at University of Maryland, "King’s Legacy for Gov. Scott Walker" (7 minutes)

Artwork:

Sharon Hayes “In the Near Future,” 2009

Glenn Ligon “Condition Report,” 2000