"And Then I Got Into Memphis . . ."

(Dr. King relaxes in the Lorraine Motel, 1966)

“. . .and some say, the threats, or they began to talk about the threats that were out, or what was going to happen to me from some of our sick white brothers . . . “

Thirty-seven years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. He had come to Memphis to lead striking garbage workers in their workers’ rights campaign. A previous march had been marred by violence, and Dr. King had been criticized for “starting a riot.” Determined to lead a peaceful march, Dr. King returned to Memphis a second time. This time, he stayed in his old hangout–the Lorraine Motel. FBI-planted articles in the Memphis newspapers criticized Dr. King for staying at a white hotel on his last trip to Memphis. Dr. King and his associates were preparing to have dinner with friends when a single shot rang out, striking Dr. King in the jaw. Dr. King died shortly thereafter, and the world has not been the same ever since.

TheStateOf looks to the life and lessons of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King for strength, guidance and leadership. He was, in our opinion, the greatest man of the 20th Century. Despite his upbringing as a sort of black Brahman, Dr. King reached out to the weakest people in America and inspired them to action against oppression. Despite constant threats of death, Dr. King never waivered in his convictions, and never showed fear or trepidation. For that, he deserves all the respect and praise he receives today and everyday.