On April 4, 1968 a great tragedy happened; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. This period of time affected many people, but did not stop African Americans from having their freedom. Dr. King left great messages in the air, people grasped them, and did something with them. African Americans were extremely angry with white people and their community. Everywhere you looked there would be violence. People hate to think about this time in history, but sometimes it is impossible to not think about it. Kids learned about Dr. King’s history in class and with their families. When kids, teens, and adults try to process it all, it is hard to have just one feeling about it. Billions and billions of people saw, experienced, and lived through his assassination, and one of those people was John G. Mr. John was twenty-seven at the time, and almost twenty-eight.
Read MoreAnonymous by Falon A., Harding Academy
I lived in Raleigh. We moved to Raleigh in 1959. I was 15 years old in 1968 I was a freshman at Harding Academy. Surprisingly enough, I didn't know any black people at the age of 15. My first African-American friend was Larry Carter who came to our school our junior year
Read MoreBetty B. by Amanda R., Harding Academy
I remember it clearly. I was twenty-four years old, married, and living out in Raleigh. This period of time in Memphis was typically good. Although, we were recognizing the injustices around us facing the black community; but, there was so many of the white people that were products of years, and years, and years of their environment’s attitudes. I will never forget the time that my family went on a bus ride. Of course, in that time, the black people would get on and go all the way to the back of the bus. Then, on the news, they would “complain” about was the fact that they had to do that and should not have to move to the back of the bus.
Read MoreAnonymous by Connor E., Harding Academy
When Martin Luther King Jr. was shot I was living in Raleigh, Tennessee while attending Memphis Harding Academy for my 9th grade year. Growing up in Raleigh consisted of a small community of just 12 kids while all but one mother stayed at home to attend to the housework. For fun my friends and I played baseball and spent time at our lake fishing and I also had the privilege to go to a country club to golf. Life in 1968 was typically me hanging out with my friends and being outside until dinner was ready.
Read MoreCarolyn H. by Casey H., Harding Academy
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. had a major impact on racism and segregation in America obviously. But the fact that it happened it happened in Memphis brings the matter closer to home. My grandmother, Carolyn H., 32 years old at the time, was living in Memphis when this tragic event happened. Raleigh Bartlett, Tennessee, next to Craigmont High School where she still today to be exact.
Read MoreSandra, by Tucker B., Harding Academy
Sandra was a twenty-two year old, recently married woman living in Raleigh, TN in 1968. Sandra states that Raleigh was a suburb of Memphis that was home to many young couples. It was very safe in Raleigh, and the standard of living wasn't expensive. In 1968, Sandra was married and expecting her first child. She worked at the Sears in Crosstown in the auditing department. When King was assassinated, Sandra was working at Sears. She said that she was scared about how people would react to the death of the civil rights leader.
Read MoreMr. Chris, by Lizzie W., Harding Academy
Chris was an All-American, sixteen year old boy. He grew up in a middle class neighborhood with a stay-at-home mother. He played baseball on the weekends and had plenty of friends. His father worked for the newspaper and would often put Chris to work delivering papers. Chris never really thought about the segregated world that he lived in. He didn’t have black children at his school or church, until one day. One Sunday morning a nice black family joined his family’s church. He remembered the church going silent as they walked forward, in fact multiple families left the church because of them joining. That event was the beginning of his awareness toward black families.
Read MoreMr. Chester, by Carolina O., Harding Academy
Mr. Chester was a 27 years old man when Martin Luther King Jr. was shot. He lived in a duplex on a street named Allendale in Memphis, Tennessee.
Mr. Chester was a chorus teacher at Treadwell. His ordinary day consisted of leaving his house around seven o'clock a.m, arriving at school around seven fifteen. He had four chorus classes: two of them were high school classes and the other two were junior high classes. He also taught spelling.
Read MoreMrs. Jones by Trenya W., Harding Academy
In 1968 , Mrs. Jones was a freshman at Spring Hill. She lived in the Raleigh area of North Memphis. She describes this area as not being the best place to stay, but affordable. In the 1960s it was different because it was the beginning of integration, which was a very uncomfortable situation for most. A typical day for Mrs. Jones was going to school , coming home and doing chores.
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