For this week’s Religious Socialism post, we share several events and resources connected to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day:

  • Our own podcast from last month features an interview with Bayard Rustin biographer John D’Emilio about the Quaker socialist who guided Dr. King and the civil rights movement toward nonviolent resistance and organized the March on Washington, among a lifetime of impactful advocacy.
  • Our partners at the Poor People’s Campaign continue Dr. King’s legacy with their Moral and Economic Agenda for the First 100 Days of the Biden administration, including DSA priorities of guaranteed housing and healthcare for all, a federal jobs program, and a $15 national minimum wage.
  • On Monday, January 18th at 7PM ET, the Democratic Socialists of America Fund, DSA’s Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus (AFROSOC), and Dissent magazine host a discussion of the film Sixteen Thousand Dollars: A Comedy Short on Reparations with filmmaker Symone Baptiste, creative team members Brodie Reed and Ellington Wells, and moderator Bianca Cunningham. More information and a sign-up link are here.
  • On Friday, January 15 at 7:30 pm, the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center host their annual Martin Luther King Social Justice Shabbat service, welcoming guest speaker Gina Belafonte, a social justice activist and daughter of Harry Belafonte. Ms. Belafonte will discuss her father’s close ties with Dr. King and with the Jewish community as part of the civil rights movement. Please email sjcPJTC@gmail.com to register for the event and receive a Zoom link.

Image: Twbuckner on Flickr, CC BY-2.0

Fran Quigley is Director of Operations and Development for the IU–Kenya Partnership at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. He is a lawyer and contributing columnist for the Indianapolis Star and other publications. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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