Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance and Sunrise Celebration

MLK Sunrise Celebrations at the American Library Association's Midwinter Meetings are sponsored by ALA's Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Task Force of the ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table, and the Black Caucus of the ALA. 

2017 Gathering, Atlanta - Dr. Daina Ramey Berry


Photo credit: Shayne James

Monday, January 23, 2017 | 6:30 - 7:30am | ALA Midwinter Meeting - Georgia World Congress Center

Dr. Berry is Associate Professor of History and African and African Diaspora Studies and the Oliver H. Radkey Regents Fellow in History at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Berry is a specialist in the history of gender and slavery in the United States with a particular emphasis on the social and economic history of the nineteenth century. Her forthcoming book, “The Price for their Pound of Flesh: The Value of the Enslaved, from the Womb to the Grave, in the Building of a Nation” offers a groundbreaking look at slaves as commodities through every phase of life, from birth to death and beyond, in early America. (Beacon Press, January 2017)

In addition to her scholarly writing and editing, Dr. Berry has appeared on several syndicated radio and television shows including NPR, NBC, PBS, C-SPAN, and the History Channel. Professor Berry's research has been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Council of Learned Societies, the American Association of University Women, the Ford Foundation, and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Dr. Berry's participation is generously made possible by Beacon Press. 

Dr. Berry will be joined by Call-to-Action Speaker Patricia M.Y. (Patty) Wong, County Librarian of the Yolo County (Calif.) Library System. Wong’s decades-long career, from her early days as a children’s librarian in Oakland to her present position as County Librarian and Chief Archivist for Yolo County, has borne witness to her tireless commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and community-centered engagement. Wong is known for her work for the California State Library on initiatives for service to diverse communities, including the writing of several seminal publications. She is a Past-President of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) and has been an active member and advocate of the five ethnic caucus associations since 1990, in addition to her service on several ALA committees and elected positions on ALA Council and the ALA Executive Board. Ms. Wong has received several awards in recognition of her contributions to the profession, including the ALA Equality Award and the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) Advocacy Award.   

Previous Gatherings

2016 Gathering - Boston

  • Press Release
  • Keynote - Dr. Mary Frances Berry
  • Call-to-Action - Barbara Kay Stripling

2015 Gathering - Chicago

2014 Gathering - Philadelphia

  • Program
  • Press Release
  • Keynote - Dr. Sheryll Cashin
  • Call to Action: Virginia "Ginny" Bradley Moore

2013 Gathering - Seattle

2012 Gathering - Dallas

2011 Gathering - San Diego

2010 Gathering – Boston 

2009 Gathering – Denver

2008 Gathering – Philadelphia

2007 Gathering – Seattle

2006 Gathering – San Antonio

2005 Gathering – Boston

2004 Gathering – San Diego

2003 Gathering – Philadelphia

2002 Gathering – New Orleans

2001 Gathering – Washington, D.C. 

2000 Gathering – San Antonio