Living in Memphis in the l960’s was a rough time and not everyone was getting along especially blacks and whites. George B. lived in a small two bedroom apartment on Hunter Street by the airport area. Even in the l960’s the area was not the best, but overall people were much friendlier even though there was tension. It was a time where many of his friends were graduating and it was a good time to be alive. George however, was not home often and when he was he liked to stay at home with his wife, watch TV, and alive normal life. Many of the problems that seem to plague Memphis today, George did not worry about and was out often. George was expectantly and anxiously awaiting for the arrival of Martin Luther King Jr. He knew that the protest had people rallied up and Dr. King would only make them more so. Dr.King was a well respected man although George knew how much he rallied the people; George hoped the city would be ready.
Life for George was not typical, having a wife in Memphis and being in the army. Coming back on a 30 day leave, George was welcomed by snow and friends in late March. He watched the TV and was informed of everything especially about Dr. King. He was nervous, as always, about the riots and violence, but he went out with his wife and his friends often. While his wife was at work, George stayed at home, but did not go outside. Most people including himself knew that it was not the best part of town and he was smart enough not to test it.George’s wife, Connie, came back in the late afternoon and they waited in anticipation for the news. Riots were going on everywhere and people, including George kept quiet with his uncertainty about what would happen when Dr. King came.
The march was in full swing and George was careful to watch from a distance with a wary eye. The march started uneventfully other than Dr. King being in Memphis and the shot shocked the city to sheer panic. Most people, including George and Connie, locked their doors and waited for news on what was happening to the city. The close friends George had in Memphis reacted the same way- in disbelief. Everyone was concerned for themselves of course, but many were concerned about the toll it would take on the city. George was shocked that something as cruel as this could happen to Dr. King and was terrified about riots. Dr. King was in Memphis to peacefully protest for the rights of the sanitation workers however, George thought they would turn to violence on the city. Police were everywhere and urged the people to stay inside or to stay as safe as possible. Everyone wanted to stay under the radar and away from the police.
After Dr.King was shot George and his wife stayed at home watching the news. Mostly George wanted to make sure that anything happening in the aftermath was not in their surrounding area. The violent actions that had taken place earlier in the week after Dr.King’s march was now a main example of everyone’s fear. Police wanted to enforce a curfew and to keep the citizens home as much as possible. Officers tried to inform the people they needed them out of the way. Being calm was crucial to the police and they tried to make sure no one panicked. George was more worried than most because of the area he lived in. The police were especially prominent around his area because of the violence before Dr. King was shot. People everywhere were nervous how others around them were going to react.
Dr. King was displayed as a very well respected man and there was no reason for George to think differently. George knew what he stood for and what Dr. King was doing. Like most people, George supported from a distance and never openly showed his support. People respected Dr. King but they also feared him and the damage he could cause. The people only feared him because everywhere he went someone always disagreed with what he had to say. After Dr. King died people’s perspectives did not change significantly. Only later did people really start to honor Dr. King as the hero he is today. For George his opinion stayed mostly the same but his respect was always growing. Now, George still holds that respect for him and thinks he could have helped the city today and its problems.
The gradual change of Dr. King’s status after he died changed Memphis forever. For a short while there was panic, but most people tried to see things from his point of view. The largest change was in how people viewed the city. Before Dr. King was shot people held Memphis to the same standards as almost everywhere else. George saw the city go down a hole and change until no one held Memphis to those same standards. Changing views on Dr. King for most people took a long time. Life views did not change at all for many, but George was more concerned with the how the city’s view changed. People everywhere wanted to stay safe and along with George, most sought protection for themselves. Because he had to leave Memphis soon, George bought a gun for his wife to keep her safe and was scared to leave her alone in Memphis. Dr. King changed the face of Memphis in many ways and with time he changed people too.