LaNeal S. by Grant P., Harding Academy

My name is LaNeal S., I was 31 years old when then assassination of MLK happened. I was living in Memphis when it happened. I remember the day was like any other I got the children ready for school and watched them leave for school and then I went about the rest of my day cleaning the house and taking care of errands. Then sometime around dinner I remember turning on the tv and hearing about King being shot. I didn't know what to think. I was scared and so was everyone else. Nothing like this has ever happened in Memphis and no one knew what to do. I was scared since my husband was out of town traveling for business and I was home with the kids so we went to a friends house down the street to spend the night because we didn't know what was gonna happen because of this. I really appreciate what MLK was trying to accomplish in his work and how he promoted peaceful solutions to problems but before the shooting I didn't really know that much about him. Life after the event didn't really change much except for the people who rioted and protested. I think it a shame that Dr. King was killed and his death wouldn't have happened the way it did if the garbage workers were treated properly and paid respectfully. It was truly a tragic incident in Memphis.