Martin Luther King’s defining moment: A kitchen, in Montgomery, Alabama, past midnight
Martin Luther King’s defining moment: A kitchen, in Montgomery, Alabama, past midnight
Well before the March on Washington. Or his “I have a Dream” speech. There was a defining moment for Martin Luther King, Jr. And it came past midnight, in a kitchen, at 309 South Jackson Street, in Montgomery, Alabama. King was 27 years old, two years into his role as pastor of nearby Dexter Avenue [...]
Lisa Singh is a writer and editor in Washington, DC. She has been writing feature articles for nearly 10 years, with a special focus on history, culture, and of course, travel. Lisa is an avid traveler and never misses a chance to visit the nearest historic destination on and off the tour map.
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Wow! This article is really revealing.
I had heard a lot about threats on King’s life and the conflicts he faced on how to respond to aspirations of a higher calling and to protect his family. I wasn’t aware of how much this incident played a part in his decision making during the civil rights era. Thanks for blogging this!
I’ve always admired Dr King’s tenacity and intelligence guided by his inner convictions and his willingness to speak out at great personal risk. I wish he were here today to address the overreaching government arms that threaten the integrity of the African-American family. I don’t think he would be pleased that his people are being used as pawns to enlarge and secure political advantage. Neutering a man with unearned rewards is worse than slavery in my opinion.
Great article about the Dexter Ave. parsonage. My wife and I had the privilege of visiting it about two weeks ago. It was the highlight of our visits to civil rights spots in Montgomery and Selma. The reason for that is tour director Shirley Cherry. She not only gave us facts. She did it with passion, especially as she talked about Dr. King’s epiphany in the kitchen. We made an emotional and spiritual connection with her. What a great lady!
This woman inspired me in so many ways – I still get chills thinking about the moment, King sitting in the kitchen, so young, getting ready to do something so big and dangerous. Most people don’t realize, cannot realize, how important the Civil Rights Movement was/is and how it continues to shape the discussion today. This is important. What Shirley Cherry does is important.
Shirley Cherry was a teacher, school librarian, leader, role model, mentor, social conscience, and friend to thousands of students and staff who were fortunate to have her touch their lives during her years as an educator in Rhode Island. Her light shines wherever she goes.