Commemorating Dr. King calls for Inquiry

On April 14, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a march to a government building in Birmingham, Alabama to protest the city’s ongoing refusal to eliminate segregation, including the denial of the voter rights of Black people. He was arrested during this march and placed in solitary confinement. During this dark time in jail, Dr. King wrote his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” declaring the moral responsibility of citizens to take direct action, even if it means breaking unjust laws, to build a just and free society for all people.

This letter was a response to a letter, published 3 days earlier, written by 8 white clergy appealing to Dr. King to refrain from the march, as these demonstrations are “unwise and untimely.” A brief presentation of the context for these two letters will be offered as a frame for a discussion of how these differing perspectives between this pivotal Black leader and white leadership at the time, continue to shed light on the complex issues of racism today. We will begin by reading the excerpts provided and then break into small groups to talk together.

Attached are both excerpts from the Letter from the 8 clergy, King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and the link to the entire King’s letter.

Facilitated by: Rev. Doralee Grindler Katonah

*Zoom link to program

We offer a Well-Being Ceremony on the third Monday of every month to remember friends, family, neighbors, pets and people of the world who are ill, facing a recent loss, or struggling with some difficulty in their lives. Please send the names of those you wish to be remembered to: Parāvrtti Doralee Grindler Katonah (Ino@valleystreamszen.org) by the Sunday evening prior.

Our Monday night programs begin with zazen (sitting meditation) followed by a devotional service and dharma talk, group discussion, or practice circle. There are no membership requirements to participate. We invite donations to support the room rental, visits by teachers, and other sangha activities. Valley Streams Zen Sangha is dedicated to the study of Buddha’s teaching and the practice of meditation. We invite newcomers and experienced Zen students to join us. If this is your first visit please arrive at least 15 minutes early for a brief orientation.

Rev. Doralee Grindler Katonah serves as Ino, or head of the meditation hall. She studied in the Soto Zen lineage with Sojun Diane Martin, founder and guiding teacher of Udumbara Zen Center in Illinois and Rev. Val Szymanski, Head Priest of Bamboo in the Wind Zen Center in Sunnyvale, California. She was lay ordained in 2008 and priest ordained in 2019. She served as head student for the Spring practice period at Bamboo in the Wind Zen Sangha in May 2022. She offers Practice Interviews upon request.