I noticed an interesting phenomenon on social media on April 4th this year, however. Social media outlets- primarily Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram- serve as a way to stay connected with friends and post photos and status updates about major life events and fun day-to-day happenings. Social media platforms have also taken on the role of communicating an individual's condolences for loss. It was no surprise to me then, when I saw tons of photographs and quotes from MLK on April 4th, showing that people remembered the anniversary of his assassination. I realized though, that all of these posts were coming from my friends who lived in Memphis or went to Rhodes. My friends from my hometown of Princeton, NJ, showed no mention of the event.
This could have just been a coincidence. Maybe my Princeton friends just hadn't gotten around to it yet. I think it could point to a bigger theme though. Although MLK's legacy in the United States is undeniable, and he will never be forgotten by our society, I wonder if his impact on Memphis is disproportionate with the rest of the nation, and the world.
Memphis changed after MLK was assassinated here. A sadness settled into the city and Memphis was forever stamped as the place where Dr. King was killed. We can't help but question, if MLK never came here, would he have lived a long and full life? Is Memphis to blame for the loss of a great American activist who could have changed the world even more so than he did during his short lifetime?
Memphis has been said to be "stuck in the past" in ways. The legacy of Memphis' greats, especially Elvis Presley and Dr. King, seem to consume the city at times. Its tourism and distinctive stamp as to what distinguishes it from other cities seem to fall on the shoulders of these heroes. The impact of Dr. King on this world, the American South, and Memphis will never be forgotten, but the scars from his assassination are painful and a large burden to bear for this city specifically. Memphians wake up on April 4th with Dr. King at the forefront of their minds. The rest of the world wakes up and remembers the event halfway through the day when they see an acknowledgment from an external source- on the news, in an article online, on their Facebook Newsfeeds.
Do you all notice this about your friends from home versus your friends here? Do you think there is a significantly greater interest in Dr. King's impact in Memphis versus other cities? If the impact is the same, is there a different sense of appreciation here compared to other cities? How can Memphis cope with the tragedy that happened here 46 years ago and continues to haunt the city?
This is not to generalize and say Memphis remembers MLK and no one else does. People all over the world remember the loss of Dr. King profoundly. They celebrate MLK Day and acknowledge his death every April 4th, but the general impact of the event simply seems stronger here, and its implications are intense and shape the culture of our city even almost 50 years later. MLK is dead, but his legacy is felt here. The issues he raised and his presence in Memphis continues to be a topic of discussion in our city. Racial disparities are clear and Memphis has a lot of work to do in regard to achieving racial equality. We live in America in 2014, but we also live in Memphis, where history runs deep, and the Civil Rights Movement remains unresolved in many ways.
No comments:
Post a Comment