MLK In Historical Context

       A large part of MLK50 was the media coverage that took place the weeks around April 4. Media from all over the world and from right here in Memphis. One of the active reporters was Wendi Thomas from MLK50 Justice Through Journalism. In an interview with Rebecca Vallas from Talk Poverty, Thomas speaks about the effect of MLK50 in Memphis economics. MLK50 commemoration was seen as a celebration to some people with expensive galas and other events that Dr. King would not have taken part of. Dr. King would have most likely of have had protests, or marches to continue to fight for rights and equal opportunity. Eight protesters during MLK50 were dragged to the ground, put in handcuffs and thrown in jail This sounds a little too familiar to what happened when Dr. King alive. The protesters probably also were unarmed. This already sounds like we have not made major improvements for justice.

       A larger issue that is happening every single day and is having lasting impact on the majority of Memphian is economic injustice. There is no statistics out right now about what the percentage of employees in Memphis are being paid under $15 an hour, simply because companies will not release that. We can only assume that it is a large percentage of employees that are being paid less than that. The only companies that would share the employees’ wages were small business and nonprofits. Nonprofit organizations are more focused on their cause they are working for having the employees become rich and somehow, they can still pay their employees a livable wage. There is a difference between livable wage and minimum wage. A livable wage is earning enough money to support yourself and the family you have created, buying a house, and living free from government aid. A minimum wage is more what high school and college students make while they are still living under the roof of their parents and sometimes their finances are covered too. Dr. King if he was alive today he would have been fighting for livable wages, not going to a fancy ball. That neighborhoods that surrounds the Lorraine Motel and a lot of the other large land markers live in poverty. They are not able to participate in gala, or take time off work to see all the speakers and presentation. If we were to really commemorate Dr. King we would continue to fight for the inequalities that he fought for. What would have been a better way to commemorate Dr. King during MLK50?

Wendi Thomas. “The Founder of MLK50: Justice Through Journalism Explains Why

       Journalists Should Take Sides.” Interview by Rebecca Vallas. Talk Poverty,    April 13, 2018. https://talkpoverty.org/2018/04/13/founder-mlk50-explains-    journalists-take-sides/