Bertha A. was a 54 year-old woman who lived during a time of discrimination & hate. She was 8 years old when Dr. King was assassinated. She lived in an old little house in Arkansas. Arkansas was a nice place to live. Her life in 1968 was normal until she heard about what was going on in Memphis. It disturbed her a lot. She heard about how segregation was bad in Memphis, TN. She felt that everyone was equal. No matter what age, gender, or race, until she heard about Martin Luther King. Bertha thought that Martin Luther King was a great and noble man. She remembered she watched his, ”I Have a Dream" speech live on television. She loved how he wanted people of all races to love each other no matter what. People in Arkansas were changing, they protested throughout the streets for African Americans. But one day, something shocked her. On April 4"‘, 1968 Martin Luther King was assassinated. When she heard this, she was helping her mother cook. She heard it on the radio. Bertha wondered how life would be without Martin Luther King. People in Memphis changed. Violence came out like wildfire. in her town, people were upset and some were disappointed.
Before the night King was assassinated, Bertha heard the radio while doing some chores. The radio said that Martin Luther King was going to make a speech at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN. The city of Memphis was excited. African Americans were proud. But when King was assassinated the next day, things changed a lot. After his death, Bertha thought that King would build a legacy for every African American in the US. Bertha would remember King as a great man. Life for Bertha was normal after the tragedy. People within her hometown were treating each other equally with respect. People in Memphis respected each other better, in her eyes. African Americans and Caucasians were friendly now. Bertha A. felt that the world was a better place because of Dr. King's sacrifice.