Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Honored by the J & JCRC
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the St. Louis Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Community Relations Council invite the public to a thought-provoking literary event on Tuesday, January 16, at 7pm. "The House Is on Fire" author event promises an evening of enlightenment and reflection.
Especially appropriate for the nationwide celebration of the late civil rights leader’s birthday, this event will delve into the pages of the captivating book authored by Rachel Beanland.
The House Is on Fire tells the story of the 1811 Richmond Theater Fire from the perspective of four integrous characters—two Black and enslaved, two white and imminently more protected—none of whom experience the world from a place of institutional authority.
“It was the largest urban tragedy to occur in the United States at that time, so it was akin to that day's 9/11,” Danielle Worthing Porter with Historic Richmond said.
Set on the night after Christmas, the place was packed as Placide & Green Company, a touring ensemble with more than 30 members, put on a play when a fire broke out backstage thanks to an oversight and some malfunctioning equipment. With more than 600 people in attendance, chaos ensued. Families and friends lost track of those they were with and many people died. Some members of the Placide & Green Company decided to hide their role in the accident and instead spread lies about rebelling slaves with torches being responsible. A hunt for those responsible and, thankfully, for the truth, followed.
The Christmas fire that killed dozens in Richmond including the Governor.
Through the lens of diverse characters, you are invited to explore this historical tragedy and the resilience of those marginalized by society with Beanland and the rest of the St. Louis community.
Moderated by Heather Flemming, founder and director of the MO Equity Education Partnership (MoEEP) and the author of the book My Black Friend Says…: Lessons in Equity, Inclusion, and Cultural Competency.
This Martin Luther King Jr. Day program is in partnership with the Newmark Institute for Human Relations at the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis. Registration is required by purchasing a $0 ticket.
ABOUT DR. KING
The second holiday of 2024 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The holiday is celebrated around the United States in recognition of the man who led a nonviolent movement in the mid 1900s for legal equality for African-Americans in the United States.
ABOUT THE J:
The J is an interactive, multi-generational gathering place that offers a variety of programs and services to both the St. Louis Jewish community and the community at large. The Jewish Community Center provides educational, cultural, social, Jewish identity-building and recreational programming and offers two state-of-the-art fitness facilities designed to promote physical and spiritual growth. Everyone is welcome at the J.
St. Louis Jewish Community Center.