Dr. King’s dread-filled voice still echoes to “too short” speechgoer
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/3661/1/Dr-Kings-dread-filled-voice-still-echoes-to-too-short-speechgoer/Page1.html
By Tri-State Defender Newsroom
Published on 04/2/2009
My husband and I arrived at Mason Temple around 5:30 p.m. Dr. King was schedule to speak around 7 p.m. However, we were informed that his plane had been delayed because of a bomb threat.
Dr. King’s dread-filled voice still echoes to “too short” speechgoer
I still remember that dreadful voice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 3, 1968.
I was 20. My husband and I arrived at Mason Temple around 5:30 p.m. Dr. King was schedule to speak around 7 p.m. However, we were informed that his plane had been delayed because of a bomb threat. We were unable to be seated because there were no empty seats available. We had to stand on some steps that led up to the entrance of the temple, which was crammed to capacity. My husband managed to maneuver his way through the crowd, holding my hand as I walked behind him. We weaved our way as far up as we could. The only thing that I could move without touching or bumping into someone was my head.
It was around 9 p.m. that the seated audience began to rejoice and applaud upon Dr. King’s arrival. Since my husband was over six feet tall, he was able to see Dr King`s face. At 5’1”, I did quiet a few tippy-toes, but I never got the chance to see his face. My only view was the backs and heads of the crowd. My husband said, “he looks like he is going to die,” and I said, “don’t say that.”
The room became very quiet when Dr. King started delivering what has become known as his “Mountain Top Speech.” His voice sounded as though it was coming over and to the right side of my head. My heart dropped, my eyes became tearful and I got the saddest and most eerie feeling when Dr. King said. “and he has allowed me to go up to the mountain and I have seen the promise land. I may not get there with You.”
Although I could not see his face, the presence of death was felt in his voice. I got the feeling that he would not live long. I said to my husband, “He sure does sounds like he is going to die.” I could not imagine that it would be so soon. Dr. King was assassinated the next day.
To this day, the most memorable thing about Dr. King’ speech is that feeling I got – and still get – after he says, “I may not get there with you, it does not matter with me now.” It seemed as though he was crying inside and telling the audience that he would be leaving us.
Dr. Martin Luther King came to Memphis to help the city’s sanitation workers (my father was a truck driver for that department) in their protest for equal wages, equal opportunities, benefits and a retirement plan. To my understanding even today the sanitation department does not have that retirement plan. WHAT A GREAT SHAME and A GREAT LOSS that Dr. King was killed VIOLENTLY for simply leading non-violent protests for the love of his people.
After 40 years, I dread listening to Dr. King’s “Mountain Top Speech” because I still get that gut-wrenched feeling.
(Allahkhai Kelijah, 60, is a freelance writer and lifelong Memphian.)
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Allahkhai Kelijah |
It was around 9 p.m. that the seated audience began to rejoice and applaud upon Dr. King’s arrival. Since my husband was over six feet tall, he was able to see Dr King`s face. At 5’1”, I did quiet a few tippy-toes, but I never got the chance to see his face. My only view was the backs and heads of the crowd. My husband said, “he looks like he is going to die,” and I said, “don’t say that.”
The room became very quiet when Dr. King started delivering what has become known as his “Mountain Top Speech.” His voice sounded as though it was coming over and to the right side of my head. My heart dropped, my eyes became tearful and I got the saddest and most eerie feeling when Dr. King said. “and he has allowed me to go up to the mountain and I have seen the promise land. I may not get there with You.”
Although I could not see his face, the presence of death was felt in his voice. I got the feeling that he would not live long. I said to my husband, “He sure does sounds like he is going to die.” I could not imagine that it would be so soon. Dr. King was assassinated the next day.
To this day, the most memorable thing about Dr. King’ speech is that feeling I got – and still get – after he says, “I may not get there with you, it does not matter with me now.” It seemed as though he was crying inside and telling the audience that he would be leaving us.
Dr. Martin Luther King came to Memphis to help the city’s sanitation workers (my father was a truck driver for that department) in their protest for equal wages, equal opportunities, benefits and a retirement plan. To my understanding even today the sanitation department does not have that retirement plan. WHAT A GREAT SHAME and A GREAT LOSS that Dr. King was killed VIOLENTLY for simply leading non-violent protests for the love of his people.
After 40 years, I dread listening to Dr. King’s “Mountain Top Speech” because I still get that gut-wrenched feeling.
(Allahkhai Kelijah, 60, is a freelance writer and lifelong Memphian.)