MLK's Read In Kicks Off Black History Month Events

By Broadside Correspondent Monika Joshi.

In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, George Mason University will be holding a read-in on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Like every year, this will be an opportunity for people to take part in an open discussion about selected works and speeches by King. The theme for this year’s event is determined to be “Continuing the Dream.”

According to Dr. Richard Rubenstein, who will be facilitating this year’s discussion, only 15 to 20 people have attended the read-in in the past. However, he is expecting a much larger crowd this year because he feels the election of President Barack Obama has created hope and also because people are concerned about the country’s current economic situation.

“Dr. King had a way of speaking that addressed both high hopes and frightening fears. He also counseled us to put our faith in ourselves, not in any leader. What would he say to Americans at the current historical juncture?” said Rubenstein.

In addition to discussing this question, a program about King which aired on Democracy Now, a few YouTube documentaries and a handful of King’s speeches will be discussed at the read-in.

Having been involved with the read-in for the past four years, Rubenstein has had the opportunity to witness several memorable discussions. One such time was a discussion about King’s decision to oppose the war in Vietnam. They talked about how King had gone against President Johnson as well as other civil rights leaders. Rubenstein said a participant at the read-in shared that he himself had faced a tough decision, having disapproved of the Vietnam War, yet serving in it as a soldier.

“This prompted a fascinating and moving discussion about the meaning of heroism in modern times. The best discussions have been those in which participants shared their personal experiences,” said Rubenstein.

He encourages students to attend the event because King is a man that can serve as an inspiration to everyone.
“Our reading does not treat Dr. King as a holy figure to be revered or worshipped, but as a man who inspired us to think for ourselves about difficult and important issues of justice and equality. I think he would be pleased at the tone of our discussions on this day of commemoration,” Rubenstein said.

The read-in is open to anyone and will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Johnson Center in room 240A, the Paul Robeson Room.