Former Sea Cliff Mayor Ed Lieberman has been providing educational lectures for local community members to help teach parts of history that they may not be familiar with. On Jan. 15, Lieberman will host a lecture at the Sea Cliff Library about the life and history of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Lieberman gave presentations on various historical topics including Theodore Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, the history of Flag Day, and most recently Vincent van Gogh. Lieberman said that idea for the presentations was pitched to him by officials at one of the assisted living homes on the North Shore, and he has continued with them since.
“When I left mayorship, I still was practicing law and being involved in the business association, but I found myself with a little more free time. One of the local assisted living homes asked me to come in and perform a lecture,” Lieberman said. “I am still doing that at many of the assisted living homes but, a few months back Camille Purcell (the library director) and I met, and I started doing some programs at the library as well.”
This presentation focuses on the life and legacy of King, one of the most prominent leaders during the civil rights movement. Lieberman said that he and Purcell collaborated to make a multimedia presentation to inform different generations about the teachings of King.
“Camille Purcell and I came together to put together a presentation on the life and words of Martin Luther King Jr.,” Lieberman said. “Growing up during the times of Martin Luther King, it was a very trying, and inspirational time, and there is a lesson to continuously be taught to both my generation and the younger generation, about the approach of King.”
The lecture will provide an in-depth origin of King, where his name came from, his youthful torment, his relationship with his grandmother, and his leadership in the Montgomery bus boycott.
“We will have a slide-show presentation featuring some live, appropriate songs from Frank Ferrara, as well as some actual recordings of King during the program as well,” Lieberman said. “It also turns out, due to some scheduling conflicts, we will be doing the presentation on King’s actual birthday, so it seemed very appropriate that this presentation is happening on his actual birthday.”
King was a driving force behind the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. He led marches, gave speeches, and conducted rallies, fighting for desegregation, the right to vote, and labor rights for African Americans. Lieberman said that he remembers watching King as a child and thinks it is important to reflect on King’s words and ideologies.
“I was in my teenage years during the 1960s and followed King’s words and policies on television while I was growing up. On top of living through the times, I have watched many clips of King’s sermons as a pastor, and read many books about him,” Lieberman said. “I think it’s very appropriate that many people take a moment to reflect on what Martin Luther King had to say and had to offer as way of nonviolent approach to civil and human rights.”
Lieberman added that this event is important for members of the community to attend to remind people of the significance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, even saying he wishes kids could have school that day to learn about the civil rights leader even further.
“Unfortunately, like many of our holidays, sometimes the day seems to lose a significance. So, this presentation is important so that we don’t lose touch with what his message and goals were,” Lieberman said. “I’d rather kids have school on Martin Luther King Day, so that they have a full day of his significance, and not just a quick segment.”
The event will take place at the Sea Cliff Village Library on Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. To RSVP for the event, visit the library website at scinfo@seaclifflibrary.org.