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The Day MLK Died

by Edward Gilbreath 04-03-2009 | 8:30pm
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The new Life.com features a collection of never-before-published photos of the events in the hours immediately following Martin Luther King Jr.'s murder at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. Here's an AP story about the photos.

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See the gallery below to preview the photos, but you'll need to visit Life.com to view them in all their rich detail.

At my personal Facebook page, where I posted a link to the gallery, novelist Vinita Hampton Wright made the observation, "How ordinary the setting of such a pivotal event." And I agree. I was especially fascinated by the image of King's SCLC colleagues gathered in the small motel room after his death. It reminded me of the mood in the house when, as a little boy, I accompanied my parents to the home of a family friend who had just passed away. You can feel the awful silence in the room, that sense of feeling lost but having no other choice but to carry on.

Tomorrow marks the 41st anniversary of Dr. King's death.

portrait-edward-gilbreathEdward Gilbreath is director of editorial for Urban Ministries Inc., editor of UrbanFaith.com, and the author of Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity. He blogs at Reconciliation Blog. This post appears courtesy of a partnership with UrbanFaith.com.

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08-16-2009 @ 2:12pm

Though the unfortunate events took place over 41 years ago, the dismay and sadness is still fresh. But thanks to Obama winning the presidential race, it has somehow alleviated our hearts and minds.

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by: Palosaari

04-06-2009 @ 2:51pm

I am saddened at how we celebrate this man. Yes, it is good to honor him on MLK Day, the day of his birth. But I think that really misses the point of his life. He was a Christian, and all that he did that we remember him for (or don't remember him for, in the case of his war against poverty and his fight against war), was inspired by his faith in Christ. He was killed for following this self-same faith. He is the greatest American martyr- and I think few could argue with that. Yet, the long-standing tradition of the Church has been to remember martyrs on the day of their death, not their physical birth. The day they were martyred is referred to as their "birth day", for it is the day they began the new life with the Lord. The truth MLK day should not be on January 15th, but rather April 4th. I know I could never change the practice of the American culture on this, but I do believe this is the day we should be remembering this great man- for to do so is to remember who inspired him, Christ the Lord.

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by: SisterMarie

04-06-2009 @ 3:23pm

I remember that day very well and also Robert Kennedy's words quoted below. Who could have known that RFKs life would also be taken in a matter of weeks"

"My favorite poet was Aeschylus. He once wrote: "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."

"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black. "

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by: Palosaari

04-06-2009 @ 2:51pm

I am saddened at how we celebrate this man. Yes, it is good to honor him on MLK Day, the day of his birth. But I think that really misses the point of his life. He was a Christian, and all that he did that we remember him for (or don't remember him for, in the case of his war against poverty and his fight against war), was inspired by his faith in Christ. He was killed for following this self-same faith. He is the greatest American martyr- and I think few could argue with that. Yet, the long-standing tradition of the Church has been to remember martyrs on the day of their death, not their physical birth. The day they were martyred is referred to as their "birth day", for it is the day they began the new life with the Lord. The truth MLK day should not be on January 15th, but rather April 4th. I know I could never change the practice of the American culture on this, but I do believe this is the day we should be remembering this great man- for to do so is to remember who inspired him, Christ the Lord.

by: SisterMarie

04-06-2009 @ 3:23pm

I remember that day very well and also Robert Kennedy's words quoted below. Who could have known that RFKs life would also be taken in a matter of weeks"

"My favorite poet was Aeschylus. He once wrote: "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."

"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black. "

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11-04-2009 @ 2:06am

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by: Legal will kit Australia

08-16-2009 @ 2:12pm

Though the unfortunate events took place over 41 years ago, the dismay and sadness is still fresh. But thanks to Obama winning the presidential race, it has somehow alleviated our hearts and minds.

by: Jezyk Angielski Chorz

08-16-2011 @ 12:54am

angielski...

Howdy! Quick question that's completely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when browsing from my iphone4. I'm trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to resolve this issue. If you have an...

by: Palosaari

04-06-2009 @ 2:51pm

I am saddened at how we celebrate this man. Yes, it is good to honor him on MLK Day, the day of his birth. But I think that really misses the point of his life. He was a Christian, and all that he did that we remember him for (or don't remember him for, in the case of his war against poverty and his fight against war), was inspired by his faith in Christ. He was killed for following this self-same faith. He is the greatest American martyr- and I think few could argue with that. Yet, the long-standing tradition of the Church has been to remember martyrs on the day of their death, not their physical birth. The day they were martyred is referred to as their "birth day", for it is the day they began the new life with the Lord. The truth MLK day should not be on January 15th, but rather April 4th. I know I could never change the practice of the American culture on this, but I do believe this is the day we should be remembering this great man- for to do so is to remember who inspired him, Christ the Lord.

by: Palosaari

04-06-2009 @ 2:51pm

I am saddened at how we celebrate this man. Yes, it is good to honor him on MLK Day, the day of his birth. But I think that really misses the point of his life. He was a Christian, and all that he did that we remember him for (or don't remember him for, in the case of his war against poverty and his fight against war), was inspired by his faith in Christ. He was killed for following this self-same faith. He is the greatest American martyr- and I think few could argue with that. Yet, the long-standing tradition of the Church has been to remember martyrs on the day of their death, not their physical birth. The day they were martyred is referred to as their "birth day", for it is the day they began the new life with the Lord. The truth MLK day should not be on January 15th, but rather April 4th. I know I could never change the practice of the American culture on this, but I do believe this is the day we should be remembering this great man- for to do so is to remember who inspired him, Christ the Lord.

by: SisterMarie

04-06-2009 @ 3:23pm

I remember that day very well and also Robert Kennedy's words quoted below. Who could have known that RFKs life would also be taken in a matter of weeks"

"My favorite poet was Aeschylus. He once wrote: "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."

"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black. "

by: SisterMarie

04-06-2009 @ 3:23pm

I remember that day very well and also Robert Kennedy's words quoted below. Who could have known that RFKs life would also be taken in a matter of weeks"

"My favorite poet was Aeschylus. He once wrote: "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."

"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black. "

by: Legal will kit Australia

08-16-2009 @ 2:12pm

Though the unfortunate events took place over 41 years ago, the dismay and sadness is still fresh. But thanks to Obama winning the presidential race, it has somehow alleviated our hearts and minds.

by: Engaging

11-04-2009 @ 2:06am

Edward Gilbreath, Thank you for sharing this, it also cause of my deep thoughts on this story.
--------------
Pimsleur French and
Pimsleur Chinese

by: Engaging

11-04-2009 @ 2:06am

Edward Gilbreath, Thank you for sharing this, it also cause of my deep thoughts on this story.
--------------
Pimsleur French and
Pimsleur Chinese

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