Local moms groups plan birthday party for Martin Luther King in Durham

Several local moms groups are working together to host a birthday party for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 16 at Northgate Mall in Durham.

The event will include an English/Spanish story time, songs, crafts and birthday cake to celebrate his life and legacy in a way that kids can understand.

Paula Young Shelton, daughter of civil rights activist Andrew Young, will read from her book "A Child of the Civil Rights Movement" and share her experiences with King as part of her family's daily life, growing up in Atlanta during segregation and marching in Selma, Ala., as a child. She'll also talk about the importance of voting.

The author, whose family was so close to King that she called him Uncle Martin, is a first grade teacher in Washington, D.C. She saw the lack of books available to help explain the civil rights movement to young children, so she wrote her own. She'll read from her book, but also talk about what it was like to be at the dinner table as protests were planned. It sounds like a fascinating discussion.

The free event starts at 10 a.m., Jan. 16, in front of Northgate Books at Northgate Mall, 1058 W. Club Blvd., in Durham. It begins with a preschool story time at 10 a.m. A school-aged story time is set for noon. Ms. Young Shelton will sign her book at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Northgate Books.

Participants are asked to donate nonperishable food items or toiletry items, such as soap, toothbrushes and diapers, for families served by the Durham Urban Ministries.

The event is sponsored by NC MomsRising, the Durham Mothers Club, the Carrboro/Chapel Hill Mothers Club, Lango Kids, Northgate Books and Northgate Mall.