Mr. Clay, by Kathryn B., Harding Academy

April 4th ,1986 was the day Martin Luther King Jr. Was assassinated. On this day Mr. Clay was a ten year old boy who lived on 1532 Eleventh st. In West Memphis, Arkansas. He grew up quite nice actually. He hung around the same people everyday because that's who lived around him. They all went to the same school, church and played sports together.

Mr. Clay was a very content child, he didn't really pay attention the out-side world problems revolved around racism. Mr. Clay had a daily routine for about everyday he went to school, came home then went out to play then came home and did homework. School to him was hard and challenging because the teachers were slightly strict and the work was challenging. His work in school was challenging because he got something in every subject every night. Mr. Clay found it different because of the grading system, help/ tutors, disciplinary, and his favorite part of the day was lunch because the food was amazing.

On April 4th, 1986 Clay did his normal routine, but today after he came home and sat on the steps to his house. His mom raced outside and said " they killed him" and he replied who. his mom continued to tell him who he was and what he did for them and other blacks. To him the whole neighborhood had a great sense of a loss. Mr. Clay felt sad now knowing the impact he had on the people. That night to him people seemed more awake and more talkative.

The night after King was shot Mr. Clay was watching the news and learning more and more about this man. The area in which he lived in wasn't as mad and violent as others about this death. Before kings death Mr. Clay didn't really know about anything about him, but after his death he looked at him as a hero. In 1970 after his death he was treated well by the white's. Mr. Clay was more careful about his surroundings and treated white's with very little respect. After Kings death blacks and whites each other differently.