Jane's Pocket Change: Walking in Memphis

On my trip south this past week I saw daffodils, little to no snow, except in the Smoky Mountains, where there was also too much fog. I delved into some American traditions: arts and crafts in Asheville, hot chicken and country music in Nashville and Graceland in Memphis. Looking back on the vacation, though, it will be the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King that stays with me. *

I watched the movie “Selma” during my time away, ensuring that I was reminded of the broad context of King’s work and sacrifice. Visiting the National Civil Rights Museum and the site of King’s last few hours, however, is what drove home the depth and value of this man—and his friends and colleagues’ great struggle. King helps us define activism; he travelled around the country providing leadership and direction to many oppressed groups. In the case of Memphis, it was the sanitation workers who were being so ill-treated. The Museum presents us with a clear story of civil rights abuses, from the ships containing the men and women who were enslaved through the political complexities of the Johnson administration and the FBI. Seeing a statue of Rosa Parks sitting on a real bus, standing next to the protesters on the streets of Memphis, looking through the balcony on which King stood at the Lorraine Motel, all of this imprinted an undeniable sense of sadness, frustration and anger—and reminded me of why we turn to social action for change.

When you see struggle and conflict such as the museum depicted it is sometimes hard to believe that things will ever change. This week at school a survivor of the Holocaust will speak to us all and I will be reminded again of the power of human narrative to inspire us to move forward with fresh energy and determination, whenever we might feel despair. My time in Memphis has become one of my personal stories, tucked away, never to be forgotten.

*Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. 
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Pocket Change is a web diary written by Jane Moulding, head of school.