Looking Back at Dr. King’s Legacy 50 Years After His Assassination
On the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, it’s time to reflect on of the greatest civil rights leaders ever.
April 4, 2018 may just seem like a normal day in America. It’s on a regular Wednesday during the middle of the work week and it falls on the week after Easter Sunday and April Fools Day.
Little we know that April 4, 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘48 assassination in Memphis, TN.
It’s hard to believe that one of the world’s greatest men was assassinated 50 years ago on April 4, 1968. Morehouse College was Dr. King’s alma mater and the college shaped the well-known civil rights leader for the rest of his life. Certain people were shocked and saddened by the legendary civil rights leader’s assassination including Morehouse biology professor, Dr. David Cooke.
“It was literally devastating”, Cooke said, “And of course the question in query was… why? To allow one’s hatred to facilitate and action such as that is beyond reason.”
When asked what characteristic stood out the most about King, Cooke talked about his relatability.
“His ability to put himself on the same place as the common man”, Cooke said, “he was not only able to understand a segment of people but for all people.”
Dr. Curtis Clark ’70, a math professor at Morehouse, was a sophomore when Dr. King was assassinated. The longtime math professor talked how shocking his passing was to Morehouse.
“When we (Morehouse students) first heard it, we were like “what!?!”, Clark said, “it was very upsetting to the college at that time.”
According to Clark, King was treated in a higher regard after his assassination than before, and that his radical nature wasn’t very popular in America.
“People were more accepting of him after his death than when he was alive”, Clark said, “he wasn’t a status quo person and was looked at more favorably after his death.”
Dr. Carlyle Moore, a physics professor at Morehouse, remembered exactly where he was when he heard the news of Dr. King’s assassination.
“I was walking in downtown Accra, Ghana. I was teaching at the University of Kumasi,” Moore said, “I heard it on the radio and my reaction was shock.”
Moore says that it’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years since the death of King and that the legend was the most polarizing figure in America. The longtime physics professor also talked about how much impact Dr. King had when it came to social justice and equality for Americans.
“The most shining of the civil rights movement was distinguished,” Moore said, “If you are interested in ideas of justice and equality, his passing was an interruption of the march towards justice and equality.”
Moore also notes that after Dr. King’s death did galvanize the movement but says that there is still a long way to go for racial justice and equality in America.
Dr. Moore is correct is noting that America still has a way to go with social justice and equality in America. After the recent police shootings of unarmed black men over the past few years, it’s time that America becomes the beacon of social justice, equality, and liberty for black people.
On the 50th anniversary of King’s death, let’s focus on how we can achieve freedom from the oppression that has continuously hindered black people for centuries.
Kingsley Iyawe is a senior, Mathematics major from Atlanta, Georgia. He is currently an editor for The Maroon Tiger.
