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 MoreDr. Jerry F. by Jordan-Claire Cissell, St. Agnes - St. Dominic
Memphis was an enjoyable town to live in, according to Dr. Jerry F., Shelby County Medical Examiner. He lived and still continues to live in the same house in East Memphis that he did the day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Memphis was a very tranquil and placid city back then. Dr. F. was a thirty-six year old married father in 1968. Dr. F. said that the thing that stands out to him is how there is so much social media to get out information and news. When Martin Luther King Jr. was shot, all they really had were phones, TV’s, and radios.
Read MoreMary Ann G. by Olivia H., St. Agnes - St. Dominic
Mary Ann G. walked out of her family’s one-story painted brick house, in a rushed manner, out of fear she would miss the bus. When her tired legs eventually reached the bus stop, she noticed the bus had just pulled up. As her change fell into the can for bus admission, she looked up, noticing a smiling black woman seated in the front of the bus. African American’s rights had just been changed. There were no more black and white drinking fountains, no more blacks being forced to sit in the back of the bus. Yet Mary Ann had witnessed racial discrimination. She had seen innocent blacks going to jail for participating in sit ins and peaceful protests. When she saw these awful stories unfolding on her family’s box-shaped television screen, she felt compassion. Mary Ann questioned herself, “Why are these harmless people being tortured because of their skin color?” At age eighteen, she was usually preoccupied with her friends, classmates, and boys, and she had never really thought about this question much before.
Read MoreJoy R. by Lily P., St. Agnes - St. Dominic
In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Joy R. was sixteen years old in l968, a sophomore in high school. She lived in Central Gardens, which is located in Midtown. Central Gardens, an older area of Memphis, had big houses and trees. Joy was a teenager in a Catholic, all girl high school and she attended a neighborhood church. In the l960’s, there were issues regarding the rights of the people in Memphis. An aroma of change lingered in the air, as if about to collapse on the city at any moment. There was no instant communication, like television, and the only phones were at home connected to the wall.
Read MoreGeorge B. by Maddie A., St. Agnes - St. Dominic
ving 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.
Read MoreJanice F. by Chemise T., St. Agnes - St. Dominic
It was a dark and scary night in Memphis, Tennessee Janis F. was at Lawanda Lake store with her grandmother.They were shopping very quickly so that they could get home and see Martin Luther King make another speech. While shopping a white man went past saying, “They just killed that nigger.” That Nigger was Martin Luther King. Janis and her grandmother dropped their things and ran home. When they got home, all they did was watch the television the whole night. In Memphis, Tennessee, they had many rules for the African Americans. They were not allowed to go to restaurants unless they went around the back. They were to go the Zoo only on Sundays. They were allowed to only sit in the balcony of the theater. They also had to sit at the back of the bus. Everyone had a curfew.
Read MoreJoAnn D. by William D., St. Agnes - St. Dominic
In the 1960s, JoAnn D. moved from her home on a farm near Crawfordsville, Arkansas to Memphis, Tennessee. She lived in a beautiful and peaceful neighborhood called Whitehaven. Memphis is world famous because of Elvis Presley, he also lived in Whitehaven.His home is known as Graceland, and JoAnn lived nearby. Like most other young women in Memphis, she was a huge fan of Elvis. She had even kissed him once. However, Elvis was not her true love. She had recently met and married her husband, Tommy D., who grew up in Memphis.
Read MoreSarah M. by Jacob R., St. Agnes - St. Dominic
Life for Sarah M. in Tennessee was like everyone else back in the 1960’s. She moved to Memphis as a little girl and was strongly against racism. Back in that time when segregation was extreme, black people who came over to a white person house had to walk through the back door. Her family felt that everyone was equal, and they never made any African Americans walk through the back door. Immediately after Martin Luther King was shot the National Guard rushed to Memphis to keep the crowds from getting out of control. “A moment after the incident, the streets were filled with people standing on their porch, head hung low, and there were lots of crying people.” Sarah’s family and friends were in shock and remembered the people crying. She was listening to the radio and thought she was having a bad dream. After the incident, everything changed.
Read MoreNadine S. by Raeganne M., St. Agnes - St. Dominic
Life for Nadine S. in 1968 was simple yet busy. Everything was segregated, even up
to the water fountains. Tension was everywhere because of the sanitation Workers who were on strike. Things were so different back then; there was no social media, internet, or cellphones.
Things were a lot cheaper, too. The cost of the average house was only $1,500. The fact is that
she only made $5,000 a year. According to Nadine, “It was a lot easier. Most of the things you
could buy now, but they were so cheap! At least, a lot cheaper than today.” Working as an airport billing clerk and owning a dance studio kept Nadine very busy. She worked as a billing clerk at the Memphis International Airport from 7 :00 am. to 3:00 p.m. After that, she went to her dance studio, Nadine Vosse S.’s School of Dance, and worked until around 9:00 p.m. She says, “It was so different from today. There is not any racial divide in America anymore. All the segregation just disappeared: the Wa t e r fountains, schools, bars, nothing is separated anymore.” Typically, she worried about the war in Vietnam. Nadine’s brother, cousin, and fiancé were all fighting in that war, and she worried that they might not come back.
Judy C. by Kayla B., St. Agnes - St. Dominic
In the l960’s Judy C. was a young lady. To be precise, she was only 18. She was going to graduate that year, so that year was an eventful year for her. She went to Immaculate Conception High School on Central Street. She lived in East Memphis, and her father owned a liquor store farther in the city. Things were more elementary because of less crime. People minded their own business. Crime was not an issue, so no one had to be worried as often as they do now. It was comfortable to live in Memphis back then for Judy.
Read MoreJerline M. by Reginald M., Craigmont High School
Age in 1968: 28
Where did you live? What was it like? What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960s?
I lived on the Raleigh-Millington Road. It was just like everyone was upset and sorry that he was killed in Memphis. It was segregated from black and white, couldn’t eat in certain places cause you were black.
Describe your life in1968. What was a typical day like for you in 1968? School? Work? How was it different from today?
I was a married house wife. Well then white was against the blacks, now the blacks are against the blacks.
Read MoreCora M. by Reaunna M., Craigmont High School
23 years old
Where did you live? What was it like? What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960s?
Memphis. The time was alright to me; I didn’t have any incidents. I’ve always liked the weather here.
Describe your life in 1968. What was a typical day like for you in 1968? School? Work? How was it different from today?
I was working at a sundry store; I was out of school. There are more jobs available for African Americans than back then. African American
Read MoreCalvin C. by Rachel B., Craigmont High School
Age in 1968: 19 years old
Where did you live? What was it like? What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960’s? Memphis TN, Typical southern town, Memphis has always been a segregated town.
Describe your life in 1968. What was a typical day like for you in 1968? School? Work? How was it different from today?
In 1968 I was a Grad from high school. It was my sophomore year at Lemoyne Owen College. A typical day was to get up and work at the broom house for two hours then go to Lemoyne Owen College. Life is different now compared to then. It has been approximately 47 years and I have retired from Kroger and am a Pastor of Oasis Church of God In Christ.
Read MoreRosie W. by Melissa W., Craigmont High School
Age in 1968 : 18
Where did you live ? What was is like? What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960s ?
- I lived in Memphis ,TN . At the time it felt normal at the time . Nothing really stood out really , but at the time I was just a teenager even though I could understand my surroundings and things felt normal and there was nothing abnormal at the time.
Read MoreNatha D. by Katilyn W., Craigmont High School
Age in 1968: 16
Where did you live? What was it like? What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960s?
“Well I actually lived in Memphis at the time, specifically on 7th street. At time it wasn’t much crime, more of a laid back city. However, something that stood out about living in Memphis in the 1960s was the whole MLK movement, the peaceful protests and boycotts... A lot of people protest for what they believed in at the time by the influence of Martin Luther King. “
Describe your life in 1968. What was a typical day like for you in 1968? School? Work? How was it different from today?
Read MoreLenda D. by Destiny W., Craigmont High School
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.
Read MoreDollie A. by Danniyel M., Craigmont High School
Interviewee Name: Dollie A.
Age in 1968: 14 yrs. Old
Where did you live? What was it like? What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960s?
I lived in the Cleaborn Holmes. What stood out about was going downtown. There were so many stores...and you had Beale Street. Downtown was like a mall to us.
Describe your life in 1968. What was a typical day like for you in 1968? School? Work? How was it different from today?
We had good life in ’68, our teenage life was the best. After leaving school, we went straight outdoors and stayed out until 7:00. Then we would go indoors, take a bath, and go to bed. I enjoyed school, school was fun. We never had school busing, we went to school in our walking area. There was really no crime
Read MoreBryan D. by Bryanna D., Craigmont High School
Interviewee Name: Bryan D.
Age in 1968: 9
Where did you live? What was it like? What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960s?
“Well nothing really stands out because you know when you a kid and I was like 8 or 9 when MLK got killed, nothing really stands out because you see everything from a kid’s point of view. You don’t really notice the difference in how people treat you because of your race because your contact with other people of other races was limited. So I can’t really say anything stood out except a lot of times it was real violent and stuff with the civil rights and all that kind of stuff.”
Describe your life in 1968. What was a typical day like for you in 1960? School? Work? How was it different from today?
“Getting up, going to school, coming home and playing was the normal for me. I had 9 brothers and sisters and we didn’t have a lot of money. We were very poor so I didn’t have a lot. I never even had a bike when I was little. I didn’t get new shoes.
Read MoreSam H. by Alexandria W., Craigmont High School
Interviewee name: Sam H.
Age in 1968:29
Where did you live? What was it like? What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960s?
“Haha , It depends on what you want to know. The cost of living was low and at that particular time no one was making any money. It was a poverty streaking city.”
Read MoreSam C. by Shlomo B., Margolin Hebrew Academy-Cooper Yeshiva School
Where did you live? What was it like? What stands out about living in Memphis in the 1960s?
“In the years living up to the assassination I lived in Memphis then four years before I went to college in Boston. But every summer I came down to spend time with my family. One thing that stood out to me was the fact that it was harder for the Blacks to get jobs in the 60s and the selection of jobs was a lot smaller.”