"I Was There!"

“I was there.”

Since 1986, we have been celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday as a national holiday. Even in kindergarten, all the kids know the basic facts of Dr. King’s life.  But every year they come to understand just a little better what his life and actions meant to our country and what these mean to them today. 

In a west African story-telling tradition, it is the custom for children to interrupt the speaker by chiming in “I was there!” Then the child tells what he sees, hears, smells and feels at that point in the story. We tried this with the story of Martin Luther King, Jr.

           

Martin was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia.  

“I was there,” sings out Harry. “His mommy wrapped him up in a warm blue blanket because it was so cold that day. His daddy was so proud. He ran out and told all his friends.”

They named him Michael Luther King after his father but later changed his name to Martin.

“That’s so they could tell him and his daddy apart,” says Jeana.

Martin loved learning. He especially loved big words and asked his father to teach him new words. He soon learned to read. 

“I was there!” crows Nick. “Martin asked his momma for a dictionary so he could look up really big words. He wrapped his mouth around a new word every day. He made his mommy and daddy laugh.”

           

Martin had a best friend who was white. They did everything together until it was time to start school. Then his friend’s mother wouldn’t let them play anymore.

“I was there,” says Eli. “I saw tears running down Martin’s cheeks. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t play with his friend anymore. His mother hugged him and told him it was OK but Martin still felt bad. I’d feel bad too.”

Martin did really well in school and went to college. He wanted to be just like his father who was a minister. Martin studied hard and graduated and became a minister too. 

“I was there!” shouts Carson. “Martin loved helping people. He visited them in the hospital and told them stories about the Bible. He had a big voice and sang out strong in church. One of his favorites was We Shall Overcome. I can sing that one too.”

           

Martin got married and had four children. He was happy at home, but was unhappy about what was happening in the world.

“I was there,” says Nina. “Back then, black people weren’t allowed to go to the same schools or movies or churches as white people. They even had different bathrooms and water fountains. One lady named Rosa Parks got arrested for sitting in the front of the bus. She was just tired of all the rules. Martin heard about it and he and his friends tried to get the rules changed.”

           

In 1963, Dr. King led many protests for equal rights. He got arrested too. He told people that even though the rules were wrong, they should be peaceful. He gave a speech in Washington, DC on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

“I was there!” yells Josey. “Martin stood on the top step. Right behind him was the big statue of Abraham Lincoln. Abe looked tired. Lots and lots of people came to see Martin. Martin wanted them all to be friends. He said he had a dream that white and black children could go to the same schools and play together. Martin looked tired too.  He was tired of the bad rules. He just wanted peace.”

           

Martin worked really hard for peace and in 1964 he won the Nobel Peace Prize. 

“I was there,” says Maria. “There were lots of important people there all dressed up. Martin’s family was so proud. Martin was proud too, but he still looked tired.”

           

Martin still had lots of work to do. He organized voter registrations and boycotts. He protested segregation rules. He led people in marches. 

“I was there,” says Travis. “Sometimes people threw things at the marchers and yelled really bad words. The police didn’t help. Lots of people got put in jail. But Martin told them not to fight back. He said peace was more important.”

Peace was most important to Martin.

“I was there,” calls Curtis.  “Martin loved peace.  Lots of people got mad at him.  I didn’t though. I told him to keep trying. He did.”

Martin never stopped working for peace. That’s why we remember him today. The children look around and see the changes Martin made. 

And all of them, black and white, sitting together as friends say together, “I was there.”