I interviewed my grandfather Jewell E. Jr. for my Martin Luther King Jr. project. Jewell E. is very wise and educated man. He was born in Hernando, Mississippi during a time of segregation and racial profiling. My grandfather was 21 years old and stationed in Camp Drum, New York when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Once the news reached his army base, the base was locked and no one was allowed to leave. My grandfather did not hear the news of Martin Luther King 's Jr. death until the next morning.
Life during this time was filled with hatred and violence. The city was racially segregated and filled with violence. There where certain places that African Americans could not go because of their race. My grandfather was in the army, so a typical day for him consisted of drills and going to work. He worked in food service on the base after his drills were done. The food service was a diverse place of black and whites.
The city of Memphis is different today because the same stereotypes are not as prevalent. There is more freedom for African Americans in the United States now. My grandfather remembers many of the people were very shocked and upset after hearing the news. Their was many mixed emotions about the situation. He was sadden to hear of the death of Martin Luther King. My grandfather knew that Dr. King was working to better things for African Americans. Dr. King wanted equality for all people regardless of their race.
My grandfather thought that he was a very powerful man. He was working for equality for all man kind. Dr. King was an intelligent man who wanted to better the country as a whole. He wanted peace and freedom for all. Unlike many others Dr. King practice non-violence. He knew that violence would lead to nothing but disaster. Dr. King helped to change the mindset of many people.