Library to Host Civil Rights Champion Dorothy Cotton

Tompkins County Public Library is honored to host “A Community Conversation with Dr. Dorothy Cotton,” Thursday, November 5 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

A pioneer of the civil rights movement, Cotton served beside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as director of the Southern Christian Leadership Council’s (SCLC) Citizenship Education Program.  Her library presentation will include personal reflections of her work, as well as a reading of passages from her acclaimed book, “If Your Back’s Not Bent: The Role of the Citizenship Education Program in the Civil Rights Movement,” by local dignitaries.

This program will be facilitated by community advocate Aloja Airewele, who will also serve as percussionist while Cotton sings a selection of freedom songs.

Cotton served as one of the highest ranking woman in the SCLC from 1960 to 1968, working directly with King and other civil rights champions to promote integration and equality.  Following King’s death, she served as vice president for field operations for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, where she was a leader and senior trainer for the Center in areas of nonviolence and empowerment for leadership.  Under the Carter administration, she served as the Southeastern Regional Director of ACTION, the federal government’s agency for volunteer programs from 1978 to 1981.

Cotton’s inspiring presentation is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.