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Just thought I'd post the ireport comments on this post...

gscott // 2 days ago
I was in Chicago at the time of Dr. Kings murder. My mother, grandmother and aunt were active in the Civil Rights movement. On the day Dr. King was assasinated, my family was crying, angry, afraid and confused. We gathered in our home as we did when a close family memeber had died. I remeber being so exhausted emotionally, although, I did not understand why until later in life.

Now, 40 years later as a RN ,I think back on our emotional response to his death...we were traumatized in a most brutal way. If "White America" could do this thing to Dr. King, what would they do to us?

Thoughts came to my mind of growing up in an area of Tennessee attending an all- black one room school- where Pledging Allegiance to the Flag was as much a part of our morning devotion as praying the Our Father. I could only conclude "It was all a big lie" There was liberty and justice for Whites and for Blacks who expected it, asked for it or demanded it...well, there were dogs,fire hoses, beatings, bullets and death . I was afraid to be Black.

Oddly enough, I was angry at my teacher and my family for not telling me the truth about what it meant to be Black in America. Another case of blame the victim.

I never learned to hate my country, or the human race regardless of color or creed. I did learn to "abhor the spirit of indifference" that allowed our nation while declaring "In God We Trust" to ignore its own hypocrisy.
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Eds // 2 days ago
A very real summary, I was there when DC was burning
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RANDY4410 // 2 days ago
I was 12 years old living in Harlem NY at the time of King's death, i remember being home that nite with my parents and my brother when we heard of his death, my oldest brother was still in Vietnam, he was release that same year, it was a shocker to us all and a very sad day in America, a day that i will never forget.
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kfullman // 2 days ago
I am an African American Male 52 yrs old. I was 13 yrs old the day Dr King was shot. It happened in the early evening. We couldn't believe it. The day I was in school in Wilmington, DE at St. Patrick's. All I can remembering how them making us go to school the next day. Our city was stunned. I was stunned. The city was in an uproar. Everyone that I can remember was very upset, my mom and all our friends. It's a day I can never forget. We lost a preacher, a teacher, a leader, a father and a leader of the people who was about to bring about change.
Kenneth M. Fullman
Philadelphia, PA
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ZOOM // 2 days ago
I was only 10 years old; however, I do remember my mother and grandmother crying, in the living room and holding each other the day he was taken from us. Growing up in the South my family made sure that I got to know the teachings of Dr. King and what he stood for. I am greatful to all those individuals that stood for equality and freedom.
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Airric // 2 days ago
I am a African American and was just concern about not hearing much talked about the whites that were part of the movement. Dr. King was truely the leader who energized, inspired, and led people of all works of life for freedom, justice, equality, and peace. Everytime I watched documentaries about the Movement or hear people discuss the Movement, I don't hear anything or not much mentioned about them. During that period, it was a dangerous thing as a white person to be associated with Blacks and the Movement. Whites and Blacks fighting side by side for all that the movement stood for not only endangered their lives but the lives of their families. I think those whites people who believed in the cause or on the side of justice, freedom, peace, and equality need to be acknowledged for taking side when it was unpopular and dangerous to do. If we need to move forward, we need to acknowledge their progress and sacrifice too. They all sang the same songs, got beaten, died, rediculed, frieghtened and went throught the struggle together. We as a nation need to come together as a people to effect changes in the right directions. I will end by saying that I bow to all those before me who stood for freedom, justice, peace, and equality for all, both whites and blacks.
Thanks
Airric