Larry P. was a 28 year old truck driver living in Southaven, MS in 1968. Larry happened to be in Downtown Memphis when Martin Luther King Jr. was shot. He remembered hearing all of the sirens and being given a curfew and was told to stay off the streets. In the weeks following the shooting, he remembers there being much sadness from everyone and he was afraid of what might would happen to him. He also said that the racial relations were actually better back then than they currently are today.
Read MoreJames S. by David J., Harding Academy
James S., who is my great uncle, grew up in Southaven, MS. He said the mid-South was a fun place to live. He said Memphis was in a transition of becoming a major Metropolitan area like Nashville. My uncle Jim, as we call him, shortly attended Northwest Mississippi Jr. College! And then joined the Navy in 65'. My uncle Jim was 20 years old about to turn 21 in October of 1968. He was at the end of his tour of duty in 68'.
Read MoreMrs. Sanders, by Gabriella M., Harding Academy
On the day of his assassination I was having my son's birthday party and my niece had gotten into a wreck so I was trying to get to the hospital but I couldn't because of curfew. In Memphis they were burning the black peoples businesses, it didn't really affect us in Southaven. Back then a typical day for me was staying at home to watch the kids, cooking, cleaning, while my husband was at work.
Read MoreMr. Knox, by Sarrah S., Harding Academy
Martin Luther King was a man of great intelligence. He fought for African American people and their rights. However, not many people agreed with his opinions. Today I will talk about how Martin Luther King's death affected America's view on segregation. This story is told through the perspective of a man named Mr. Knox.
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