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My Memories of the Funeral of
Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Michelle Smith
The years 1965 to 1969 were notables as well as faculty,
tumultuous, exciting and life students and everyday citizens
changing. Foremost among the life came from everywhere to pay
changing events was the their respects. They were
assassination and funeral of Martin young, old and in between. I
Luther King, Jr. From the shock saw Harry Belafonte, Sammy
and sadness of learning of his Davis Jr., Mahalia Jackson,
death the evening of Thursday, Robert Kennedy, Ossie Davis,
April 4th to his funeral five days Ruby Dee, James Baldwin and
later on Tuesday, April 9th, life Lena Horne.
went into overdrive and I sensed I hung out at Canterbury House,
things would never be the same. I the Episcopal Student Center
remember the sadness and tears at Morehouse and Father Scott
and a fear I hadn't felt before. I asked me to be a student
remember the endless line of marshal at the public funeral on
people snaking around campus the Morehouse quadrangle
from the front gate to Sister's Tuesday afternoon. Morehouse
Chapel where King lay in state to and Spelman students were to
walk by his casket for one final join hands and create a human
glance. I remember the clear plastic chain around the VIP seats to
cover placed over his casket to secure them until the King
prevent touching. Limousines filled
with movie stars, politicians and
