Aaron Thomas was a student in east Memphis in 1968. In the 1960’s the AfricanAmerican community in the US was fighting for their equal rights. Their marches, boycotts, sit ins, and protests affected most of the country. Memphis was no exception.
What was life like in Memphis during the 1960’s?
“I was a student in the 1960’s. I remember hearing about different protests and other things going on. The biggest thing I remember was when we heard about Kennedy. When the president was killed in Dallas we were all shocked.”
What do you remember about the assassination?
“I remember hearing about it on the news. There was a man across the street from the motel who shot out of a bathroom. He was a in a very tall building. After he made the shot he got out of town. I believe he went to England where they arrested him.”
How did you and the people around you react?
“I did not affect me personally on a significant level. I was not involved in the fight for civil rights. My family was the same way. We did not participate in the protests or anything like that. I do remember our black maid not coming in. But after things pretty much went back to normal. I think that in other parts of the country this was more significant depending on who you were.”
Did your life change after the assassination, and do you think it changed people's views?
“From what I remember it was a significant act. I think that some people's views may have changed.”