Interviewee Name: Lenda D.
Age in 1968: 13
Where did you live? What was it like? What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960s?
In the 1960s I lived in Fayette County. The African Americans and whites just started going to school together. There was a lot of discrimination going on. We weren’t allowed into some stores and there were certain water fountains that we had to drink from. There was also a lot of name calling going on.
Describe your life in 1968. What was a typical day like for you in 1968? School? Work? How was it different from today?
Children did not have the opportunities that they have today. Children have the internet and other sources to help them become educated. Children in today’s society can have any education they want as long as they put forth the effort to achieve it.
What do you remember about the day King was assassinated? What was different that 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?
On the day King was assassinated I was at school. Some of the people around me were upset but others did not care. I personally felt that a great man was taken before his time. King put forth the effort to help everyone of every race. There was a lot of chaos and disbelief throughout the town. Many people were doing things that they knew they weren’t supposed to.
Describe your night after King was shot? Where were you that night? What was the city like?
The night King was assassinated I was at home with my family. The incident was all over the news. I was saddened by the new as I wondered what the future would behold. The city was still in shock and did not know what to do.
Did life change at all after his death? Did people act different or view problems differently? Do you think people’s attitude changed?
Yes life changed over time after King’s death. People acted a lot differently. We came together more and became more mature about the situations. We were coming forward into a brighter future but I feel as if it is going backwards now.
Is there anything else about that time in your life that we haven’t discussed that you’d like to add?
I think that everyone should come to the realization that the color of your skin doesn’t make you any different from the next person. We should all bring King’s dream to reality again. We should move forward instead of backwards.