When he traveled to Memphis, Dr. King had been advised to stay in a nicer hotel, one which would have afforded better security, but refused, wanting instead to stay at a place that he knew, a place of his people. Rev. William Lawson, Former President, SCLC Houston Chapter, who knew Dr. King and hosted him several times in Houston, Texas, recounts Dr. King’s triumphs over adversity within the Movement, and the reasons behind his final trip.
Here, he talks of Dr. King’s decision to stay at the Lorraine Motel, “It was suggested that when he came to Memphis, that he stay in one of the finer Holiday Inns. Memphis was the headquarters of the Holiday Inns. And he refused. He said… ‘I want to stay among my people…’ He chose to go to Lorraine which was completely exposed with all the abandoned buildings around.“
Want to see more? Visit www.HisDreamOur..., a dedication to civil rights through first-hand accounts of those who helped start a movement. Browse through more than 100 interviews or add to the collection by sharing your own story or that of a loved one.
22 авг 2024
