1963 – Martin Luther King Writes “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
After being arrested in Alabama for a series of anti-segregation demonstrations, King penned the “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” addressed to eight clergymen who criticized his protest methods. In the letter, King argues the importance of nonviolence, the necessity of direct action, and the moral obligation to break unjust laws. The open letter was first circulated as a mimeographed copy and later published in numerous publications. Today, it is widely recognized as one of the most significant texts in the American Civil Rights Movement
1991 – Ralph Ellison Passes Away
Ralph Waldo Ellison was an acclaimed writer and essayist. His only published novel, “The Invisible Man,” is recognized as one of the most significant texts in 20th century literary canon. The novel, published in 1952, was met with widespread acclaim and led Ellison to become the first Black recipient of the National Book Award. He continued to write until his death on April 16, 1994. He was 81 years old.
