40 years ago in the evening around 6, I was at my home in Atlanta and I was in my den with my children who were younger, actually, I was sewing, I was making my daughter’s Easter dress and watching the evening news with Chet Huntley. It was the Huntley –Brinkley report. Suddenly, there came an announcement, saying that we interrupt this news cast and Chet Huntly said that we just received word that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been shot in Memphis. My bother was there to work with the garbage workers who were on strike protesting low wages.
Shortly after the announcement, Chet Huntley came back and said we confirm this report that Dr. King has been shot in Memphis and that it is critical. When I heard the word critical, I knew that it was serious and immediately I went to the phone to call my sister-in-law, Coretta. The line was busy, I called my parents, the line was busy and I repeated that several times, and I could get no one.
My husband came in and he had heard the news, “we will have to go to Coretta,” he said. I said give me a few minutes to change clothes, he said we don’t have time, we have to go and I got the baby sitter for my children and we proceeded to Coretta’s home. When I arrived at the home, Coretta was coming down the stairs with then Mayor Ivan Allen. She said “I am on the way to airport, I got word that I should come to Memphis” and she asked that my husband and I go with her. Mayor Allen got into the car, too. My husband said “you will have to go to Memphis,” and I said “I was not dressed,” and my husband said “you have to go with Coretta.” I was careful of my appearance; I just had on a house dress.
When we arrived at the airport, my brother’s secretary, Dora McDonald met us and someone had already purchased airline tickets. I immediately went to the telephone, trying to speak to my parents. The line was still busy. So Dora summoned Coretta and took her down the hall to the ladies room. I followed and as soon as we got into the ladies room, someone came and knocked on the door and entered. It was Mayor Allen. It was then that he informed my sister-in-law that Dr. King had died in Memphis. What a striking blow. After a few moments, Coretta said, I had to go back home to my children, so we didn’t go to Memphis that evening. And they carried us back to the house. When we got there, the children came to the door, the first was Yolanda, and Coretta was trying to explain things to them and everyone was moving to where the TV was because Lyndon Johnson was about to make an announcement. And I recall him saying that this is a ‘sad time for all people, we have learned that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has been killed in Memphis.’ And the rest is history.
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| Shanny |
April 4th, 2008 12:39 pm ET I just can’t imagine it. You are of my grandmother’s generation and I am awed daily by all of your strength. You are the last of the true ladies. I understand why the housedress was an issue. I am white. I am Canadian. I am a 70’s baby, so I only know of your brother’s tragedy through history lessons. I have so appreciated the posts that you and others have written here the last two days on CNN. It has made the story of Dr. King more real, more personal. My brother is not a great man like yours, but he is a policeman. I can only imagine the horror of receiving a phone call that something violent has happened to him. Dr. King was claimed by the whole world as their own, but for you he was a brother first. I don’t imagine the loss is any easier even 40 years later. Thank-you for sharing your thoughts about that day. |
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| Melissa |
April 4th, 2008 1:19 pm ET I wish the teachings of Dr. King meant more to the generation of black people today. Yesterday a car of six young black men (late teens to early 20’s) pulled up beside me to hurl insults calling me chink, chang and Lucy Liu (yes I’m Chinese). Because I chose to ignore them, they started to throw things at my car and then drove away. Black men can no longer blame the white man for their misfortunes. Dr. King and Rosa Parks opened up the door for blacks and it’s up to the individual to choose the path they want to lead. Those young men yesterday chose the path of ignorance and violence and in the end they will reap ignorance and violence. |
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| Susan |
April 4th, 2008 2:31 pm ET Dr. Christine King Farris: The shock and sadness of that day must have been overwhelming for you, but you chose to think of other family members over your own grief. You are a true lady. Your pride and courage through the years since are a wonderful testament to yourself and your entire family. Much peace and love to you. Susan |
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| Tammy |
April 4th, 2008 6:10 pm ET America lost a leader. You lost so much more, your brother, and in such a very public and horrific way. Loss always hurts no matter how many years pass. Thank you for sharing your story today with the world. Your strength and grace and love for him made me cry and smile. Your loss, your family’s loss, our world’s loss still saddens me yet makes me realize we have so far to go in realizing his dream for us all. |
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| Helen Franklin |
April 4th, 2008 6:46 pm ET I was so happy that my older brother, now deceased was able to be present at Martin’s speech in Washington, D.C. and he was so proud when he returned home to Ohio where he lived and called all of his 6 siiblings to let us know what a great event it was. I was a student then and unable to leave school to go with him but one of my sons attended the same church in Atlanta where Coretta was when she died and he spoke so highly of her. It doesn’t seem like forty years has passed since I heard him speak and I hope today’s young people will continue to strive for the dream to be realized in our great nation as the years pass by for them and their children of all ethnic groups. bless you. |
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| Annie Kate |
April 4th, 2008 9:19 pm ET Dr. Farris Thank you for sharing with us. I remember your brother vividly and his inspirational words and leadership. He touched the conscience of the country like no other before him or after. We lost a great man that day when your brother was murdered; no one since has been able to fill his shoes. I respect your loss and thank you and your family for sharing your brother with America. He was a truly great man. Annie Kate |
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| sonny |
April 5th, 2008 11:21 pm ET I unfortunately have no words to give for there are none to feel how you have felt, honestly, to lose one own blood so close to you. All I truly could say is sorry, but his memory is thriving on, and that must be worth something. |
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