Every year on this day I’m reminded of those infamous U2 lyrics…
Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride
During the 6 years that I lived in Memphis, I sadly never once visited the Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. I drove by it many times though. But the story I find more intriguing is that of Jacqueline Smith. She was the last tenant of the motel, evicted from her living space so that the motel could be turned into a museum. She now stands across the street from the museum in protest every day, and has for 20 years.
Most locals call her a “fraud” because she tells people she is homeless, giving the impression that she’s been on the street all day and night for all those years. She actually has an apartment, and keeps business hours on the street in protest. But she has indeed been there since 1988. She claims Dr. King’s message has become diluted. Would he have wanted someone thrown out of their own home, and possibly end up on the streets for good, just so someone could put up a museum? I’d like to think not.
Yes, it is important to preserve such parts of history for those who come after us. But I find it so discouraging that the museum itself looks at this woman in disgust. They even had her arrested on Dr. King’s birthday because they didn’t like the signs she was displaying in protest about 8 million dollars being spent on a James Earl Rey exhibit.
I’ve never understood why as a country we shamefully disrespect the people of today and care only to preserve their memory and message when their gone as long as someone can make a profit from it. We don’t want to forget them, but we don’t want to give them equal rights either.
Kudos to Smith who is still fighting for the dream!
