Tell us your memories of Dr. King

[GinaMaria]

I don't remember him growing up. I was very young and my family was republican. My best friend in High School remembered going to civil rights rallies when she was small. Her mother took her and her siblings. It had a huge effect on her. She's a mom who lives in the burbs now and gets more conservative each day, imo. No matter how much Bill O'Really she watches, nothing can shake her dedication to civil rights.

Please share your memories. Tell how it felt to watch or listen to or meet (if you were so lucky) Dr. King. How were you influenced?

Let's honor the man today with your thoughts and rememberences.

Peace,
GinaMaria

[bobbieinok]

1. I had the opportunity to hear MLK in person in Tulsa in 1960

He was really mostly known as a 'troublemaker' then because of his support of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

[MrBenchley]

2. Wish I could

The only time I "heard him speak" in person I was so far in the back of the crowd I couldn't hear or see him him...

But even through the media, he was a mighty force nonetheless...

[DrWeird]

3. Before my time.

But I've been fairly recently told that my recently deceased grandmother-in-law was an amateur poet who wrote and sent a poem to Coretta Scott King upon Martin's death. Apparently that poem can be seen on or near MLK's tomb. Although I have never been.

[FarLeftRage]

4. I remember MLK from the newscasts of my childhood

I knew that he was someone special trying to make lives better for Blacks and for all of us, really.

I really didn't get to read or know more about him until after his tragic death.

Having lived in the North and being ten when he died, only my interest in social studies kept me knowledgeable.

[gardenista]

5. My Dad took me to a march in DC when I was 4

I will never forget it. It is one of my earliest, most vivid memories.

I knew that it was very important, and that I was to conduct myself with respect and dignity. But I found another 4 year old, and we proceeded to raise hell, run around and scream. It turned out to be ok, I guess, because we were no longer two little girls, we somehow became a symbol for something we couldn't understand.

When we got near the stage, everyone was singing "We Shall Overcome". And I sang too. And sang, and sang, and took the song to the home of my conservative grandparents, and sang it for many days after that. I can't imagine what they thought of it!

To this day, the minute I hear Dr. King's voice, I get chills everywhere. I tear up, and it brings me back to a time when I was filled with hope and a belief that if we worked hard enough for it, the right thing would happen, and peace and justice would prevail. Like we deserved it or something.

My worst memory of childhood is also related to Dr. King. One evening as we arrived home from a dinner at those same grandparent's house, one of our neighbors approached our car. He was drunk. We were always afraid of him, but this time my Dad made us stay in the car while he got out to talk to him. Mr. Haga was his name. He was yelling, "Well, that nigger is dead, somebody killed that nigger." My Dad punched him in the face. He punched him in the face. My Mom was frightened and crying, and Mr. Haga was yelling at my Dad that he was a nigger lover, and my Dad made Mr. Haga go into his own house before he would let us out of the car. Tears stream down as all of the shame and fear and anger of that evening comes back. I learned more than I ever could imagine on that night, and even though it was a horrible experience, I'm glad I lived it. It is seared into me.

edit: spelling

[GinaMaria]

8. Like we deserved it or something

that line got me. I think you put into words what can be seen in people's faces when they talk about Dr. King. Thank you for sharing this incredible memory.

[H2O Man]

6. when I was an ANGRY teen-ager...

...in the early 1970s, and was a "boy wonder" in amateur boxing, I was friends with the falsely-incarcerated middleweight contender, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. The Rube had marched on Washington with King, and had been friends with Malcolm X. Now, when I say angry, I mean I was the angriest kid in America. Carter used to have me read the writings of both Martin and Malcolm, and we would discuss them in the letters we sent back and forth. So, though I never actually met King, he helped to transform my life!

[GinaMaria]

9. Wow. that's amazing.

Lots of angry kids out there. Boxing it would seem would be an excellent outlet for it, but Martin and Malcolm make an excellent cure for it.

Peace and thanks for sharing your memories.

[GinaMaria]

7. Thank you for the stories

They have moved me and I'm sure others.