Where did you live? What was it like? What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960s?
I lived in West Memphis, AR, which is approximately 15 miles from Memphis, TN. During this time, African-American were still oppressed. They had made some progress in the South, but not very much. What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960s was the racism that was very prevalent. African-Americans were allowed to ride in the front of the bus and attend the same movie theater as their white counterparts, but there was still a lot of disparity. If a black individual entered a department store or small boutique in the city of West Memphis, they were treated like vulture, watching and waiting for its next meal. The salesclerk would in a sly and sneaky manner watch and follow blacks through the store, while the white shoppers were left to roam throughout the store.
Describe your life in 1968. What was a typical day like for you in 1968? School? Work? How was it different from today?
I was a housewife of six children. My husband was a band director at the local predominantly black high school in West Memphis, AR. All of my children were enrolled in the predominantly black elementary school two blocks from our home. My children did not encounter racial issues at school or church, but in the local grocery stores, malls and doctor’s office. Things are quite different today. However, there is still a lot of racism in the local stores and malls, but it is not as prevalent. There are subtle signs of racism throughout the city of West Memphis.
What do you remember about the day King was assassinated? What was different than normal? How did you feel? What did you think? Where were you when you heard? How did you react? How did people around you react? How did things change throughout the night?
I recall people running up and down the street yelling that Dr. King had been assassinated. It was very different than the norm in our neighborhood. You typically did not have individuals running through the streets hollering and crying in a loud manner. I felt very numb and sad. I really thought the world was coming to an end. I was home with my children when I heard the news. All of the local television channels was broadcasting the depressing news of Dr. King’s death. Things really didn’t change throughout the night. The streets were a bit quieter, but the hurt and disappointment lingered that day and years to come.
Describe your night after King was shot? Where were you that night? What was the city like?
The night after Dr. King’s death was very quiet and depressing. We had no energy to eat or move about. We sat in front of the television and watched the account of his death. We talked to neighbors in the neighbor hood and wondered who would commit such ruthless act. We were across the bridge in West Memphis, AR and did not experience all that the Memphians experienced in their city. However, we saw the hurt and frustration demonstrated by citizens in the city of Memphis.
What do you think of King before and after his death?
I thought he was a positive influence for the world, not only black Americans. He had a heart for unity, love and peace, which was not demonstrated in the city of Memphis at that time. He was instrumental in giving blacks hope in the midst of a bias, cruel society. I thought there was no hope for the African- American man after his death. I seemed helpless and alone. It seemed as if he helped resolve or soften racial issues, so the black individual felt he was alone after Dr. King’s death.
Did life change at all after his death? Did people act different or view problems differently? Do you think people’s attitudes changed?
Life did change after Dr. King’s death. Blacks were nervous about being alone or encountering a white person. They were not sure what their motives were. Some blacks had no confidence in the local police system or any whites at that time. They felt the local police had no interest in protecting the black man. They became very cynical and really didn’t want to trust them.
Is there anything else about that time in your life that we haven’t discussed that you’d like to add?
I would add how you were supposed to deal with this as a Christian. Your first inclination would be to hate John Earl Ray and mistreat anyone who supported him. However, as Christians, we have to learn to accept the wrong done by others and forgive them. We have to allow God to impose revenge on them and not try to handle or deal with the individuals ourselves. We also have to learn to pray for our enemies. It’s really easy to be bitter and hateful toward an individual that has wronged you, but that is contrary to everything the Bible teaches.