Elizabeth L. by Kristen H., Harding Academy

In 1968, Elizabeth L. was a sixteen year girl who lived in Memphis, TN. Elizabeth L. describes living in Memphis during the 1960's as a good life. She likes the music in Memphis during that time and clearly remembers dancing along the streets with her friends downtown. A typical day in the 1960's for Elizabeth would have been raising her young two children and getting up to go to work. She was not in school because she had to raise her children. She says that she had way more responsibility then than she does today. She remembers being at work when Dr. King was assassinated and feeling like they had lost a great leader. People around her reacted with sadness and disbelief. Throughout the night, Elizabeth just shook her head and cried. The night after Dr. King was shot was a very sad night says Elizabeth. She was at her house reading the bible and praying. She thought Dr. King was a great leader before he died and after his death, she thought that there will never be another leader like him. Life did not change after his death however Elizabeth says that people's attitudes improved. She remembers him as a good, strong, and Christian man.