MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
I was living in Memphis on the day MLK was murdered there, so this day always carries special meaning for me. In addition, I had volunteered to teach a course at the local Negro College, so I was close to many who felt his death especially strongly. The Sanitary Workers (read: garbage collectors) strike against the city had brought Martin to town, and his death forced the City of Memphis to shut down with a curfew. It was a very sad and even scary time.
A couple of days later, several of my students at LeMoyne College called and asked if I would like to go with them to the King Memorial Service at the college, and, of course, I was honored to do so. I was learning a lot about the Civil Rights movement while living in Memphis that year, especially while teaching at the college. The garbage collectors had not been allowed to form a union, and that got taken care of right quick. There was an absolute divide between where and how white people lived and worked, and that of black people.
Unfortunately, we have slipped back a long way in recent days under Trump. It’s very important that those of us who would stand with Martin and his clearly righteous cause stand together now in these tumultuous times. Martin’s “dream” still seems far away, but we must nonetheless stand strong, carrying the torch of freedom and justice. Don’t let stupid, selfish, and evil Donald destroy Martin’s dream.
One response to “”
Very important that we stand together.