Wednesday, January 15, would have been the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 96th birthday; and on this Monday, January 20, the nation will honor his life and legacy with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

This holiday is a day off for many. But it is also designated officially as “a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities,” according to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Here in Durham County, we will have our annual Durham City-County Employee MLK Observance Program at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 28. This year will mark the 20th annual event, which came out of the inspiration of former Durham Board of County Commissioners Chair Rev. Dr. Michael Page. He said it was modeled after the State of North Carolina Government’s Annual MLK celebration that he thought would be wonderful to bring to the local level.

“The reason I wanted the Durham City-County Martin Luther King, Jr. event to happen is my belief in advocating for unity in our governmental community as we continue to address the human needs of our citizens,” Page said. “I felt it was appropriate for county and city government employees to come together, as we often do collaboratively to respond to the needs of our community; especially focusing on the ideals of Dr. King.”

The towering Civil Rights Movement leader first visited Durham in October 1956 amidst the Montgomery Bus Boycott. King spoke at Hillside High School at the invitation of the Durham Business and Professional Chain, a Black business organization that still exists today. Dr. King became close with a North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University) law student by the name of Mickey Michaux, at whose home he stayed while in Durham. Michaux went on to become a North Carolina state representative for Durham and would later recall the topic of King’s speech that day: “Love for One’s Fellow Man.”

Love for his fellow human beings brought Dr. King back to Durham on several occasions throughout the 1960s. On February 15, 1960, King joined Asbury Temple Methodist Church pastor Rev. Douglas Moore to protest segregation at the Woolworth’s department store downtown – One City Center now occupies the site. The following day, King delivered his “Fill Up the Jails” speech at the Hayti District’s White Rock Baptist Church. The original church was demolished in 1967 during the construction of the Durham Freeway.

Dr. King visited Durham for the final time in November 1964. He spoke at the Jack Tar Hotel, Duke University, and North Carolina College. A recording of King’s speech at Duke is available online. Just a few short years later, King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, while supporting a sanitation workers’ strike.

Michaux remembered his personal friend in a WRAL interview last year, saying that Dr. King was the reason he went into politics.

The Durham County Library’s North Carolina Collection is a remarkable place to go to read about and see photos of these historic visits by Dr. King. Here are some of those:

• Dr. King Visits Hillside High School, 1956
• Dr. King Walks Down Main Street, 1960

  • With Asbury Temple Methodist pastor Douglas Moore and Ralph Abernathy

• Dr. King at White Rock Baptist Church, 1960
• Dr. King Visits the Segregated Woolworth Counter in Downtown, 1960

  • Moore and Abernathy also pictured

• Dr. King Speaks to Southern Political Science Convention at Jack Tar Hotel, 1964

For this year’s anniversary event hosted by the county and city, at First Presbyterian Church at 305 E. Main Street in downtown Durham, we are excited to welcome Dr. Anthony D. Lewis, the Superintendent of Durham Public Schools as the keynote speaker! For two decades, this annual event has gone on each year, including two virtual occasions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022. It’s a wonderful event that I have had the pleasure of participating in for 15 years now.

Rev. Page, who attends the events still to this day, has fond memories of all of them.

“My most special memories were always the speakers and their poignant messages,” he said. “The music has always been lively and upbeat. The messages and music were always enjoyed by our attendees. … The program has always encouraged and promoted solidarity in our community!”

We invite all Durham County residents to come to our event, which is free and open to everyone! There will be friendship, celebrations, musical performances from singer, songwriter, and classically trained violinist Kimberly Michelle, words from Page, the invocation, unity prayer, and of course, Dr. Lewis’ keynote address. Durham Mayor Pro Temp Mark Anthony-Middleton will be the presiding officer for the event.

Before our event, the Triangle Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee will hold its 45th annual celebration at various places in the Triangle – kicking off with the Triangle MLK Jr. Holiday Kickoff Event and Wreath Laying Ceremony at the MLK Jr. Memorial Gardens in Raleigh.

Durham’s Sheraton Imperial Hotel will host the MLK Jr. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, with the theme of “Mission Possible: The Power of Justice and Radical Love”, on Monday, January 20 at 7:15 a.m. The annual Memorial March will start at the State Capital Building in Raleigh at 11 a.m.

You can visit here to find out more information about these events.

Durham’s annual march will begin at the NC Mutual Tower at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 20. The event includes a parade from the tower to First Presbyterian Church and culminates with a presentation of music, prayer, and speech in a program that begins at 12 p.m.

The 22nd Annual NC MLK Black History Month Parade presented by Spectacular Magazine and the Triangle Cultural Awareness Foundation with Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams as the Grand Marshall will be held on Saturday, February 1. More information can be found here.

However you choose to honor Dr. King this year, whether by prayer, celebration, or taking part in one of the many day of service opportunities in our community with Activate Good, Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center, Keep Durham Beautiful, lots of local churches and organizations, or our own Open Space Division, I hope you take a moment to think about and reflect on his legacy and the ongoing struggle in our country for justice and equality.

Until next time,

Claudia Hager | Durham County Manager