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Martin Luther King Jr. 1997
• J \ \ i \m 15, 1997
P age C9
life with Martin
F
o r three years, since 1956,
Martin had been virtually com
muting between M ontgom ery
and SCLC headquarters in At
lanta. Toward the end o f 1959,
my husband had come to the point in
his life when he felt that he had to give
still more time to the civil-rights
struggle, and that in order to do this,
he could no longer perform his duties
as full-time pastorof Dexter. The times
seemed to dictate the need for a con
centrated assault on the system of
segregation in the South. Martin felt
that if SCLC was to expand and really
become the catalyst that would move
the South and the nation forward,
then he must devote full time to the
organization and its development.
The Dexter congregation did not
in any way resent M artin’s activities.
In fact, it is hard to describe the pa
tience and u n d e rsta n d in g they
showed us. Rather than requiring that
Martin preach every Sunday, when
civil-rights activities required this
presence elsewhere, they would hire
other ministers to fill in for him. M ar
tin him self would be assailed with
guilt as to whether he was giving the
church sufficient attention; yet, at
that same moment, the board o f dea
cons and church members o f Dexter
would say, “We know all the de
mands upon you, but d on’t even
consider leaving us. Dr. King, we
want you to stay at Dexter forever.”
It was a very hard problem, but
finally the pressure o f traveling back
and forth to Atlanta, trying to pastor
at Dexter, speaking and traveling all
over the country, as well as in other
parts o f the world; the increased de
mands o f the civil rights Movement;
and all the other demands placed on
him as a leading public figure, led
Martin to the painful decision that he
must leave Montgomery.
A tlanta provided the great
est opportunity fo r his personal
development as well as offer
ing the most favorable climate
in which SCLC could grow.
He discussed the situation with
Daddy King, who pointed out that
having Martin with him at Ebensezer
would be o f enormous help to him,
since he was finding it increasingly
difficult to manage alone. The matter
was taken up with the board o f dea
cons, and they most generously of
fered Martin the position o f co-pas-
to ro f the Ebenezer BaptistChurch o f
Atlanta.
Martin was moved and excited by
the prospect, but, even so, leaving
Dexter was a great wrench for us as
well as for the congregation. There
was something very special to us
about Montgomery; it was our first
church, and our experience o f shar
ing and suffering with the people
brought us so close together. We
loved the congregation and they
loved us. They wanted Martin to
stay, and though we knew we must
move on, we shared their feeling.
The members o f the congregation,
as well as others in the M ontgom
ery community, would say to him,
“Oh, Dr. King, we feel so comfort
able when you’re in town. W ejust
know that if anything happens,
y ou’ll know how to handle the
situation.”
On Sunday, November 29,1 was
in church when Martin offered his
resignation. He asked the Rever
end T. E. Brooks to preach the regu
lar sermon, and then he went to the
pulpit. As he stood there, so filled
with emotion, you could feel the
love and sorrow o f the people
reaching toward him.
Martin said, “What I am about
to say I know you are already
aware o f
1959, Martin served notice on the
nation o f a great new thrust toward
black freedom. He said, “The time has
come for a broad, bold advance o f the
southern campaign for equality. A f
ter prayerful consideration I am con
vinced that the psychological m o
ment has come when a concentrated
drive against injustice can bring great
tangible gains. .. Not only will it in
clude a stepped-up campaign for voter
registration, but a full-scale assault
will be made upon discrimination and
segregation in all forms. We must
train our youth and adult leaders in
the techniques o f social change
through nonviolent resistance. We
must employ the new methods of
struggle involving the masses o f the
people.”
The unfolding o f this intricate of
fensive was made passible by our
moving to Atlanta where M artin’s
direction o f the M ovement could be
more effective.
On the last Sunday in January,
there was a big ceremony in M artin’s
honorat Dexter. His life in Montgom
ery was reviewed and, to M artin’s
complete surprise, Mamma King,
A.D., Christine, and my parents all
suddenly appeared. Yoki and Marty,
then only four and two, were also
present. It was a beautiful and m ov
ing occasion that was culminated
when the congregation presented us
with a lovely silver tea service en
graved with the inscription: “To Dr.
and Ms. Martin Luther King, Jr., in
grateful appreciation. Dexter Avenue
Baptist Church, Montgomery, Ala
bama 1954-1960.”
... F or almost fo u r years
now, I have been trying to
do as one man, what five or
six people ought to be do
ing • ”
He talked o f the responsibili
ties that had been thrust upon him
and “the strain o f being known”
and the fact that he had been un
able to serve them as completely
as a pastor should. Then he said,
“I want you to know that after long
and prayerful meditation, I have
come to the conclusion that I can’t
stop now. History has thrust upon
me a responsibility from which I
cannot turn away. I have no choice
but to free you now.”
Then supporting him self on the
lectern, his heart reaching out to
the brothers and sister, Martin
said, “I would like to submit my
resignation as pastor o f the Dexter
Avenue Baptist Church, to be
come effective on the fourth Sun
day in January, 1960.”
As the congregation o f the
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
rose for the Benediction, they sang,
“Blest Be The Tie That Binds,"
and my husband wept.
Two days later, on December 1,
A t a testimonial given by
the Montgomery Improvement
Association, M artin again
spoke with deep emotion. All
o f us had lived through so
much togetherthat our hearts
were very close.
Continued to page C IO
Saluting
Martin Luther King,
a hero for peace.
Imagine walking
into a bank and,
suddenly, everything
comes up roses.
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