MORGANTOWN — For those still fighting for racial equality and civil rights, Dr. Martin Luther King remains a symbol of hope.
April 4 marks the 50-year anniversary of King’s assassination in 1968 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn.
King was a Baptist minister and was one of the most prominent faces of the American Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s. Utilizing non-violent protest, King was a driving force behind two pivotal pieces of legislation: the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.
“In my opinion, Dr. King’s strongest legacy is the tremendous example his life and work have set for the young movement leaders who are fighting for equity and social justice today,” said Marjorie Fuller, the Director of the West Virginia University Center for Black Culture and Research. “His inspirational words, and the courage he displayed is a strong example of the kind of dedication and commitment that is needed to make real change.”
Fuller vividly remembers the day that King was shot and killed.
She was 10 years old at the time.
“I remember being deeply affected, not only because it was obviously so tragic, but also because of the response of the adults in my family,” Fuller said.
She said that her grandmother cried as if a family member had died, while her parents were both sad and furious. The rest of her family members, friends, teachers and church family were all filled with grief.
The most disturbing thing, she says, is that no one was surprised.
Fuller says she doesn’t know exactly what she was feeling at the time, but she realized, looking back, that she felt unsafe. She was worried that if King could be struck down so easily for fighting for his beliefs, then so could she, her father or her mother.
“As I watched the rise of the movements of today, I realized that Dr. King gave his life so that we could speak freely, and continue the fight for the equity and justice that all people deserve,” Fuller said. “And I know that he would be out there with our youth, and that he would be proud of them.”
William E. Blosser, of Morgantown, was in high school in 1968, but doesn’t remember exactly where he was and how he felt upon hearing of King’s death.
However, he recognizes King’s role in improving race relations going into the 21st century and how he helped to enfranchise an entire group of people.
“50 years later we’re discussing exactly the same problems that he was addressing,” Blosser said. “The voices now are as good and maybe better now than during his time. There’s a whole lot of people who are listening and who are sensitive to it now that didn’t seem to recognize it back then.”
Like Fuller, Blosser wishes that change would happen more quickly, but remains hopeful for the future.
“It’s not happening fast enough for me, but it’s happening and it’ll be better for my great-grandchildren,” he said.
On Thursday April 5 at 7 p.m. at the Erickson Alumni Center, the WVU Center for Black Culture and Research is helping to sponsor the first-annual “Solidarity Ball” to celebrate the work of the WV Innocence Project. The event is free and open to the public and will feature remarks from special guest Ricky Jackson, an exonoree from Cleveland, Ohio.
“This event is definitely in alignment with the vision and mission of Dr. King, and we hope that everyone will come out,” Fuller said.
