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Martin Luther King III and Rev. Al Sharpton led the Memphis Commemorative March. Photo Courtesy NNPA |
Memphis Marchers Reflect On Dr. King's Death
By Florence M. Howard
Special to the NNPA from the Tri-State Defender
MEMPHIS (NNPA)—“Martin Luther King III and Rev. Bernice King for the first time in history made a pilgrimage to the Lorraine Motel on the date of their father’s assassination,” said Beverly Robertson, executive director of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
She was reflecting on the historicity of the moment observed last week, during the 40th anniversary of their father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The leader of a nonviolent civil rights movement, Dr. King was assassinated April 4, 1968, while standing on the motel’s balcony.
Now, 40 years later the balcony and the room in which Dr. King stayed are part of the museum, which served as the focal point for last week's commemorative activities.
The 40th anniversary commemoration, which began in February with the opening of a Smithsonian traveling exhibit, “381 Days: Montgomery Bus Boycott Story Exhibit,” hit its stride with the 10th Annual National Convention of the National Action Network, April 2-6 at the Peabody Hotel. It reached its zenith on April 4, drawing civil rights icons, dignitaries, presidential hopefuls, television and movie luminaries, and ordinary people to Memphis and to the museum to reflect and reconnect with Dr. King and his dream.
Friday, April 4 started off with rain and a morning march by Local 1733 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union of workers Dr. King had come to help. Georgia King, 68, was invited by Ruth Davis, the current union president, to lead the march.
King, a Memphis grassroots activist also known as Queen Akua, said that this was a repeat of history.
“Coretta King came back to finish the march on April 8 – the day before Martin Luther King’s funeral – from Clayborn Temple on Hernando to the Lorraine Motel. Rev. Ezekiel Bell was telling everyone to line up and start the march,” she recalled.
Then in her 20’s, King had come to Memphis from Union City, Tenn., in tribute to Dr. King and was chosen to lead the march because of her African-styled garb and head wrap, which became her trademark.
“That first march, I was out front by myself,” she said, noting that she walked 12 to 15 steps in front of Coretta Scott King who was followed by 17,000 marchers.
Some 800-1,000 people took part in last week's march that honored the 1968 sanitation workers and traversed from the AFSCME headquarters on Beale to a rally in the museum courtyard.
Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network (NAN), moved the organization’s 10th Annual Conference to Memphis for the 40th anniversary |
Posted April 9, 2008
commemoration. He led the second march of the day, from City Hall to the museum, where a candle light vigil took place. The vigil included guest speakers and performers, such as Rev. C.T. Vivian, Dr. Cynthia Griggs Fleming, and the Philander Smith Concert Choir. Forty lanterns were lit and the names of civil rights figures of the past were read.
Fourteen-year-old Samir Ford participated in the NAN march and in the candle light vigil.
“It was very moving to see that 40 years later the dream that Dr. King envisioned is still being carried out among people from all over the world – all colors, all races, all ages – who came to this small city to pay their respects in person,'' said Ford, a ninth-grade student at Memphis’ Central High School.
For Beverly Robertson, the vigil and commemorative march honoring sanitation workers were the most significant among the two dozen or so events happening throughout the city.
“This year’s 40th anniversary commemoration was a time for reflection and reconnection,” the museum director said. “At the vigil, Martin King III spoke and Rev. Bernice King asked the audience to recommit to the principles espoused by King…to eradicate poverty and seek economic parity.”
Robertson said one visitor told her “she experienced an epiphany standing in front of the historic Lorraine Motel and listening to the profound words of Dr. King’s daughter. She understands that she is the manifestation of Dr. King’s dream and has the responsibility to use her life to make a meaningful difference in the continued struggle.”
Martin Luther King III also spoke on April 2 at NAN’s 10th Annual Keepers of the Dream Awards at the Peabody Hotel. King has attended the conference and the awards banquet, traditionally held in New York City, every year.
“I always come to Memphis with mixed emotions,” said King. “My mother lost her husband, I and my siblings lost a father, but the nation perhaps gained a movement.”
Angela Davis, activist, teacher and former Black Panther member, spoke at the University of Memphis about Dr. King and a global civil rights movement. (Information from the Real Times News Service contributed to this story.)
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