Cry in PAIN Today for King’s Murder on April 4, but then Rejoice about & Realize the POWER he Gave Us on April 3rd!
Maggie Anderson, JD, MBA, Renowned DEI Speaker, Author, Lecturer, Activist
Renowned DEI Leader & Speaker. Acclaimed Author, "Our Black Year: One Family's Quest to Buy Black in America's Racially Divided Economy" Curator of landmark Kellogg study re business DEI & empowerment. U Chicago JD/MBA.
Just now, I reminded my daughter of what happened 50 years ago today, that Dr. King was murdered fighting social AND economic INJUSTICE. And I couldn't stop crying.
But then, I also reminded her of what he said just one day before he was slain, on April 3, 1968. I showed her that during this famous “I’ve seen the Mountaintop” speech at Mason Temple in Memphis, he fought for economic EMPOWERMENT.
Then, after I showed her that, my baby girl said to me, "So that's why we go to the Black bank, right? And the cleaners and the McDonald's". Yes, baby. That's exactly why. And I couldn't stop crying, I was smiling through the tears.
CRY AS YOU FEEL THE PAIN OF HIS MURDER ON APRIL 4th, BUT THEN REJOICE ABOUT, REMEMBER, AND REALIZE THE CHARGE AND HOPE HE GAVE US ON APRIL 3rd! AND THE POWER IT STILL GIVES US NOW!
“[W]e've got to strengthen black institutions. I call upon you to take your money out of the banks downtown and deposit your money in Tri-State Bank—we want a "bank-in" movement in Memphis. So go by the savings and loan association. I'm not asking you something we don't do ourselves at SCLC. Judge Hooks and others will tell you that we have an account here in the savings and loan association from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. We're just telling you to follow what we're doing. Put your money there. You have six or seven black insurance companies in Memphis. Take out your insurance there. We want to have an "insurance-in."
Now these are some practical things we can do. We begin the process of building a greater economic base. And at the same time, we are putting pressure where it really hurts. I ask you to follow through here.
Now, let me say as I move to my conclusion that we've got to give ourselves to this struggle until the end. Nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this point, in Memphis. We've got to see it through. And when we have our march, you need to be there. Be concerned about your brother. You may not be on strike. But either we go up together, or we go down together.”