Tonight I enjoyed learning about Martin Luther King Jr. in the Shreveport area. History fascinates me. It’s sad that people can harbor so much hatred. On a positive note, amazing people like Dr. King can inspire good and most importantly, action.
Here's the story...
His speech, “I have a dream, inspired an entire nation to change and reject hatred and racism. Today our nation honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Nbc 6 reporter Karen Hopkins spoke with some local civil rights icons who knew Dr. King and of the steps he took in Shreveport to fight racism.
Shreveport pastor C.E. McClain was just 13 when he first saw Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “He maintained eye contact. It could be chilling when his eyes turned to you.”
Dr. King spoke twice in Shreveport: in 1958 at Galilee Baptist church and then 4 years later at the historic Little Union Baptist church. “He said some things about our town that were not very flattering, that we were the sickest city in America, the second most racist city.”
Shreveport historian Willie Burton says in 1963, activists organized a peaceful walk. “Here young black wanted to march." But the police commissioner, George D'artois, would not allow it. So instead, Little Union held a prayer service. “That's when the horses came up the steps and got him in the back of the collar and drug him out.”
Pastor McClain is referring Dr. Harry Blake, a prominent local pastor and civil rights legend. “People all down the street had to get out of the way because of the police brutality.”
The violence outraged students at Booker T. Washington. Classes marched in protest. Burton says, police tear gassed and beat students.
Decades later dr. King's legacy lives on. We have a black president, mayor, police chief.”
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment