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Martin Luther King

These are the final paragraphs of the final speech of Dr. Martin Luther King's life, April 3, 1968.

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind.

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get will get to the promised land!

And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!

He was in Memphis to support striking sanitation workers.

Following the assassination, there were riots in several dozen American cities, including Washington DC. I was a senior in high school and a member of a Northern Virginia singing group which was asked to help entertain the National Guardsmen who had been called up to try to keep the peace. We did four shows in one day in various locations around the District. I'm not sure we did any good, and I'm not sure whether we were supposed to be showing the Guardsmen what they were trying to preserve (wholesome clean-cut American suburban kids) or just trying to keep them calm. Whatever our purpose, it was an experience I won't forget.