In 1968 my husband, Ken, and I, along with our two preschool children, were living on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Ken was a student at Emory's Candler School of Theology and I was working in the development office at Emory, as well as taking a couple of classes.What a busy time! The civil rights movement had played a large part in our decision to give up our former, comfortable middle class lives and move in this direction. Atlanta was the center of activity for civil rights at that time.
Then, on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr., while on a speaking trip to Memphis, was gunned down. Immediately, Atlanta, Dr. King's home, was "electric" with racial tension. But, as his body was flown home and funeral plans were made - and, thanks to thousands of local volunteers and those who streamed in from all over the country - the days that followed were peaceful.
Following is a poem I wrote years later about that amazing time.
Yesterday we walked with Martin.
It was raining very hard.
Hundreds, thousands pressed against us,
As we neared the fenced churchyard.
That morning I had fed my babies,
Dressed them, hugged them with thanksgiving
Then drove us all to our day places
(You know I have to make a living.)
They were all alone in Memphis,
When the awful moment came,
Martin laughing by the railing,
At the small Hotel Lorraine.
People came from everywhere,
Needing rides and food and bed.
We scrambled to find safe places,
For them to lay their weary heads.
Yesterday we walked with Martin.
It was raining very hard.
Bobby, Ethel, Harry led them,
But hundreds, thousands swarmed the yard.
This morning we made Easter eggs,
For our preschool celebration.
We'll play and sing and clap our hands,
While waiting for the resurrection.
***
