My grandmother, Nancy S., was 26 years old at the time of the assassination. She lived on 695 Loeb St. near the University of Memphis in an all white neighborhood. All churches and schools were segregated. Most people worked downtown and rode buses to work. Black passengers had to ride or stand in the back of the bus. Most homes employed black maids, yard workers, child caretakers, cooks, etc.
My grandmother worked in Memphis City Schools in a Title 1 federally funded program as a science teacher. These were the black, inner city schools. In fact, her and another lady were the first white teachers to go to black schools. Besides them, only ROTC personnel were white. She drove from East Memphis to schools in south, north, or inner city Memphis. Many of the black students wanted to touch her hair and skin because they had not been exposed to white people. The students were shy; not eager to speak in class. Many didn't have adequate food, clothing, or school supplies, but were eager to learn.
Garbage collectors wanted to unionize and there was a march planned to protest job conditions. It had been planned for March 22 and she was told not to enter the parking lot of Cypress Jr. High School or nails would be in her car tires. She decided to take a taxi to work on March 21 and it fell 13 inches of snow. Schools were closed and King was unable to get here. It was then moved to April 4. King arrived and checked into the Lorraine Motel. Across the street was an old, cheap, rooming house and a 3rd floor room was rented by James Earl Ray who'd just driven into Memphis in a Mustang with a loaded rifle. Ray was able to shoot King on the balcony as they were leaving for dinner. People learned about it in the 6pm news, a curfew was declared, martial law enforced, Nat'l called out next day. No buses ran. My grandmother was going downtown to a law office to close a home she'd bought and had to return home. Her maid couldn't come to work on Friday to babysit. My grandmother said she was willing to go to Orange Mound and get her but the maid was afraid for them to come.
They stayed in their home due to the curfew. Their neighborhood was very quiet. There were areas where tires were burned in the streets and some protests were held at churches. Most people were very concerned, careful, kind to strangers, etc. She was worried about her garbage piling up outside and attracting rats and flies with warmer weather because no one came to pick it up.
My grandmother liked King very much. She respected his nonviolent message. She had been through the integrations of lunch counters and all public facilities when she lived in Washington, D.C. in 1960-1961. The integration of MSU had been peaceful and she made many black friends, some she still knows today. My grandmother liked King's speeches. He was a great motivator; a true leader.
Many white people became afraid of blacks and society was still segregated to a degree. It took time for people to accept the newly integrated theaters, restaurants, buses, etc. My grandmother later taught at Harding Academy which she said grew quickly as people feared integrated schools. Harding had 2 or 3 black students in 1973. Political leaders began to listen to both races and be more sensitive to issues. Children were "colorblind" and played together and made friends that were of different ethnicity.
A nice black family moved into her neighborhood in 1969. The mom worked with my grandmother's husband; had a college degree, and earned enough to buy the home. Her three children were similar ages to my grandmother's and and she invited them to play at her house and vice versa. The family was able to move to a nicer neighborhood and a bigger home in about 4 years. My grandmother later taught one of her grandchildren at Harding.