The murder happened in Memphis, TN on April 4, 1968. Below is a picture of where this occurred that I took on a trip to Memphis in 2003. King was killed as he stood just behind where the wreath hangs today at the now closed Lorraine Motel. The shooter, James Earl Ray, fired from building across the street.
Although I was still a year and a little more from being born when this happened, I've learned a lot about Dr. King in my growing up and adult years - what he stood for, why, how he went about achieving his goals and more. This is the true testament to the man and all of those who followed him and others to really change the United States for the better.
Most people know of King's "I have a dream" speech and rightly so. However, the man did a lot more - and some would say more "threatening" to the establishment than that. For example, if you haven't done so, check into the March on Washington he arranged, look into his opposition to the Vietnam War and read about his Poor People's Campaign. These were actions that crossed race lines and truly started to shake the established, traditional, conservative and moneyed interests country - for good in my opinion.
Which is why King knew it was all too possible that he might be killed.
Unfortunately, here we are now on the anniversary of his assassination.
It's a good time to not only reflect on what King accomplished, but why he was killed. Who would have wanted that? Why? Who benefited from his murder?
1 comment:
Thank you for a moving and lovely tribute!
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