Durham Tech will be closed on Monday, January 16 for to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and achievements as an influential American civil rights leader.

“Somewhere we must come to see that human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals. Without this hard work, time becomes an ally of the primitive forces of social stagnation. So we must help time and realize that the time is always right to do right.”

“Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,” Oberlin College Commencement, June 1965

Many choose to use this as a day of service to their communities– when we support our communities, we lift everyone up. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on the on-going legacy the 1960s Civil Rights Movement has had on our country and on current social justice and civil rights movements.

Keep reading for some books to explore contemporary reads and media inspired by and reflecting on the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King’s life and legacy.

King in the Wilderness is a documentary that follows Dr. King through the last three years of his life. To access database materials, log in off-campus using your Durham Tech username and password (same as for Sakai or Self-Service).

Explore Katori Hall’s audio production “The Mountaintop,” a fictionalized account of Dr. King’s reflections after his final speech, through Digital Theater+.

The Durham Tech Library has print books available at the Main and Orange County Campus. Ebooks and audiobooks are available through Dogwood Digital Library (accessible through the Libby app, just like you use for your local public library).