North Carolina’s poet laureate, Jaki Shelton Green, will be the keynote speaker at Rocky Mount’s 37th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast on January 20. The event, held at the Rocky Mount Event Center, will begin with breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by the program at 8 a.m.
This year’s theme, “Changing the Hearts and Minds of a Divided Nation,” reflects the ongoing pursuit of unity and understanding.
About Jaki Shelton Green
Green, a celebrated poet and advocate for literature, is North Carolina’s first African American poet laureate and the third woman to hold the position. Appointed by Governor Roy Cooper, she serves as an ambassador for literature and literacy, using her platform to promote her own work and that of other writers across the state.
Born during the Civil Rights era, Green’s upbringing and experiences with desegregation have profoundly influenced her poetry. As a teenager, she faced expulsion from public schools in Orange County after participating in protests demanding inclusion and equity for African Americans. She later attended a Quaker boarding school in Pennsylvania, where she continued her education.
Currently, Green teaches documentary poetry at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies, which focuses on storytelling through various media, including photography, film, writing, and audio.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy in Rocky Mount
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement, visited Rocky Mount in 1962, delivering a speech at Booker T. Washington High School. This address laid the groundwork for his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, presented during the 1963 March on Washington.
King, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, was assassinated in 1968 while supporting striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. His legacy of nonviolent resistance and advocacy for equality continues to inspire.
Local MLK Events
The Unity Breakfast will also feature the winners of the Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Competition, showcasing speeches by middle and high school students. This competition is scheduled for 9 a.m. on January 11 at the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences. The themes for the contest are “We Are Stronger Together” for middle school students and “Does One’s Silence Create Change?” for high school participants.
Additionally, the International Festival of Cultures, promoting diversity and inclusion, will take place on March 15 at Nash Community College’s Brown Auditorium.
These events are organized by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, which works to honor King’s legacy through meaningful programs and activities in the community.
