By Jenna Renaud

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

Happy Friday, Wildcats! After a year off, Falvey Memorial Library is bringing back Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Jenna, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday of each January and is a day for us to pause in remembrance of Dr. King and serve our communities. The holiday was first observed in 1986 and was the first time a modern private citizen was to be honored with a federal holiday. Dr. King was an integral part of the Civil Rights movement and the most visible spokesperson and leader from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. Below, I share a range of activities and resources to help you commemorate MLK Day. 

If you have 3 minutes… read this article from The Villanovan to learn how the University came to have the original copy of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. 

If you have 4 minutes… watch this video talking about how the original copy of the “I Have a Dream” speech ended up in the hands of a last-minute volunteer and Villanovan. 

If you have 18 minutes… watch the full “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. 

If you have 90 minutes… register for the African American Museum’s FREE and virtual “Disruption Spotlight & Open Mic” Friday, Jan. 14, 6–7 p.m.  

BONUS: The African American Museum of Philadelphia has a variety of virtual programming all weekend in honor of MLK Weekend. You can find all their events and more information here. 

If you have 11 hours… check out a book about Martin Luther King Jr.’s life from Falvey’s collection! The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.

Jenna Renaud is a Graduate Assistant in Falvey Memorial Library and a Graduate Student in the Communication Department.