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Remembering the Dream By: Delanda S. Johnson Special to the News
Someone once said, “Moving forward starts with not leaving his message behind.” However, we must wonder if in 2007, the young people of today are keeping Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s. dream alive. We must realize that Dr. King hoped for a nation where people would be judged on their character, not by individual ethic groups. Let us reflect back with a few people in the Henderson County area who can recall the sadness and horror when they hear of Dr. King’s assassination. For those of you, Athens, Texas is our County Seat, which is Henderson County. Before becoming the North Texas Conference; Tyler District, Athens was the lead District for the Northeast Texas Conference. Ms. Pearlie Jenkins Russell, (93) a long time resident of Trinidad recalls back in 1968, “I was working at the Corner Café as the cook and when the news came about the death of Rev. Dr. King all screamed and cried white and black people. The owner at that time Ms. Lou Willis closed up the café because it looked like everything went to pieces.” After the assassination of Dr. King, Ms. Russell remembers that the white people were friendlier and took more time to talk to black people. Russell remembers while working for TP & L plant (which is now TXU) Mr. Cruz, who was Superintendent at the time, only paid Russell $5.00 a week to take care of the family and house work. However, after the death of King wage went up. “In the schools, the children got along. There was no fighting. Today, things are much better, but it could be improved. You will always have some prejudices, but its take parents and their relationship with the Lord to help overcome their prejudice. For you see, Jesus knows no color,” said Russell. Mr. L. C. Smith, (92) a long time resident of Malakoff recalls in 1968, “I was working at TP & L plant in Trinidad when the news arrived about Dr. King’s assassination. In Malakoff, there was sadness and shock. People were lost for words, however, by Dr. King working to help improve conditions for blacks in America, we knew that someone would be out to get him. I recall that integration went through without any problems in Malakoff.” Smith reflects on the day when black people had to enter from the back door into any business or restaurant, but noted that things are better due to Dr. King’s Civil Rights movement. Smith believes that Dr. King’s impression of today’s America would be that of joy and sadness. By this, Dr. King would be happy to see all of the improvements, but sadden to know how many black Americans are in prisons and that prejudice is still alive today. Ms. Eva Trimble, (88) long time resident of Malakoff recalls that will working at the local Dairy Mart, news came of Dr. King’s death. Ms. Trimble felt hurt and could not believe that Dr. King was gone. “America lost a great Civil Rights leader and I felt sadness for Mrs. King, but I know that the Lord would give her strength and courage to endure whatever the future held for her and her children,” said Trimble. Samuel J. Trimble resident of Malakoff, but living in Dallas at the time recalls “I was working at Sears at that time. The company employed 3700 people, but the blacks and some whites felt that we had lost one of the worlds greatest leaders. Even today he is known as one of the greatest leader we have ever seen or will see. With the assassination of Dr. King, it set us back twenty years; it was a great tragedy for the blacks in the United States. As far as today leadership, no one has come close in filling Dr. King’s shoes. One day maybe there will be a leader who will replace Dr. King, but no one so far has the spirit of Dr. King.” Mrs. Gloria Glaspie, (78) resident of Athens and retired AISD teacher, plus born in the same year as Dr. King recalls, “This was a time of sorrow for me. I respected and loved the work that he was doing to help black people in the United States and we stand today with the fruits of his labor. He opened back doors, opened front doors, and closed back doors and made many, many people be able to walk some streets they could not have walked before. I cried; it was a sad, sad day.” Glaspie noted that some people might have felt that Dr. King was doing something that he should not have been doing, but except for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the freedoms that we enjoy now, we would not be enjoying them. “That Sunday morning at Allen Chapel AME Church the Pastor did comment on Dr. King’s death as a great lost. The church congregation knew that a great man had been lost. We honored him then just as we honor him now.” Ms. Vee McClaister, (99) long time resident of Malakoff recalls, “When I heard about Dr. King’s death, I was shocked, in-disbelief, sadden, heart broken. I felt sorrow for Mrs. King and her children, but knew that if she trusted the Lord, He would see her through this horrible time. Dr. King’s dream for black Americans has been fulfilled, but we must not let his dream die. We must press on for a better America and a better future. We must continue to get an education, stop the black on black violence, taking and selling drugs, etc. We must place our trust, faith, and hope in the Lord, for He alone holds our future.” |
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