Martin Luther King was a man of great intelligence. He fought for African American people and their rights. However, not many people agreed with his opinions. Today I will talk about how Martin Luther King's death affected America's view on segregation. This story is told through the perspective of a man named Mr. Knox.
In 1968, the young Mr. Knox lived in Southaven, Mississippi, only a few minutes away from Memphis. He said he was scared and confused then. Mr. Knox grew up on a farm helping his mother with the hard work from early in the morning till dinner time. He knew he had always wanted a professional career but he came to Mississippi and found that he was a great painter. He grew up having never seen a black person before until he moved to Southaven, Mississippi, close to Memphis. At the time, Mississippi was one of the worst places for African Americans. It was home to many Ku Klux Klan members.
Since the Klan didn't like King's view, they often hurt his followers because they couldn't get him. Mr. Knox says that he had 6 black friends die because of the Klan's retaliation to King's peaceful protest. Mr. Knox didn't exactly know why the Klan or ignorant rednecks(as he calls them) would kill men for peaceful protesting. King's protest were focused on peaceful demon- stration, not violence.
When Mr. Knox heard about King's death, he described it as feeling as if you were in the "Twilight Zone." He automatically knew the loss of King would be almost as bad as the loss of President Kennedy. Mr. Knox was saddened that a great man lost his life. When King was assas- sinated, he was peacefully protesting for the Memphis workers who were being underpaid and didn't have enough rights. Mr. Knox calls it "The Shot Heard Around America" because many people were affected by his death. Mr. Knox describes the African Americans as losing their "Messiah" because they looked to him and followed him like the disciples followed Christ. Many violent protests broke loose everywhere in America due to his death.
The night after all of this happened, Mr. Knox says that it was very dangerous for white people to be in the streets. He says that there were many protesters on almost every street. Mr. Knox said that his death was unexpected to the public. Followers of King say that he knew he was going to die but just not when he was going to. Mr. Knox says that King's family picked up where he left off. King made it easier for his family because they knew what all was to he done now.
Before King's death, Mr. Knox says that he didn't support or like King's opinions. Mr. Knox says that he knew it was true about how black people were mistreated, but he didn't want to support a man who was hated so much. He says that King was the one of the first black people in the limelight. After King's death, he says that King proved to be an honest, kind, and decent man. He also says that he began to realize how the law didn't include black people in anything.
Because of his death, many changes were made. African Americans came up and oppres- sion and segregation lessened. Mr. Knox says that people were more just about decisions and ac- tually thought about things more. He also says that the people who were changed the most were
the people who weren't involved. Mr. Knox says that even though King's death was tragic, it brought forth great things. In Mr. Knox's point of view Martin Luther King demonstrated perse- verance even though he was punished for his views. Mr. Knox says that King followed God's command from James 1:12, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that The Lord has promised to those who love him."