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 [Ralph Abernathy] Original Airdate: 11/8/1989 Length: 00:04:28 Item Type: newstape - edited story master Go back to main record. Full Description 0:59:56 Visual: Black and white footage from From Montgomery to Memphis. Shots of civil rights leaders Ralph Abernathy and Martin Luther King, Jr. marching together at a demonstration; of King being escorted to a police van by police officers; of King sitting in a jail cell. Jan von Mehren reports that Ralph Abernathy (author and civil rights activist) worked alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. (civil rights leader) for many years; that the two men were colleagues and friends. Von Mehren notes that Abernathy comforted King after he had been fatally wounded by a gunshot in April of 1968. V: Shot of a black and white photo of King and his supporters on a balcony after King has been shot. Abernathy kneels by King. Von Mehren reports that Abernathy has written a book about his experiences; that the book is called And The Walls Came Tumbling Down. Von Mehren notes that Abernathy signed copies of the book at a book store in Cambridge. V: Footage of the Abernathy's book signing in Cambridge. Shots of Abernathy signing books; of the book; of the crowd at the bookstore. Von Mehren reports that Abernathy writes about King's human side. Von Mehren notes that Abernathy's book recounts how King met with two women and fought with a third woman on the night before his assassination. V: Black and white shots of an audience listening to King speak; of King speaking to the audience. Footage of Mike Dorn (student) being interviewed at the bookstore. Dorn says that people were happier when they did not know compromising information about their heroes. Dorn says that people feel bankrupted when their heroes turn out to be human. Footage of Abernathy being interviewed. Abernathy says that King would not care; that King encouraged Abernathy to write about him before he died. Black and white shots of three African American men boarding a bus. Von Mehren stands in Harvard Square in Cambridge. Von Mehren reports that the controversy over the book has intensified. Von Mehren reports that Abernathy attended the dedication of a civil rights memorial at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) in Montgomery, Alabama last week; that Morris Dees (Head, SPLC) told Abernathy to leave when Abernathy approached the stage at the event. Von Mehren notes that Dees is a white attorney; that Dees has accused Abernathy of selling out King. V: Footage of Abernathy being interviewed by von Mehren. Abernathy says that he is deeply offended at being pushed around by a white man. Abernathy says that he has given all of himself to the civil rights movement. Black and white footage of Abernathy speaking to audiences; of audiences applauding for Abernathy. Von Mehren reports that Abernathy is a Baptist preacher; that Abernathy and King would travel together and speak at churches around the South. Von Mehren reports that a small crowd turned up to hear Abernathy speak at the Cambridge Baptist Church last night. V: Shots of the audience at the Cambridge Baptist Church; of Abernathy approaching the pulpit. Footage of Abernathy speaking to the audience. Abernathy talks about God turning bad things into good things. Abernathy trips on the pulpit step after the speech. Abernathy turns to the audience. Abernathy says that the pulpit must be an Episcopal pulpit. Von Mehren reports that Abernathy was a willing follower of King. V: Black and white footage of King walking toward a car. King tells someone to tell Abernathy to go on ahead. King hugs a young African American girl. Von Mehren reports that Abernathy lost support when he backed Ronald Reagan (former US President) in the 1980 presidential election. Von Mehren notes that Abernathy regrets his support for Reagan now. V: Shot of Abernathy greeting people after his speech at the Cambridge Baptist Church. Mel King (community leader) and Joyce King (wife of Mel King) are among the crowd standing with Abernathy. Footage of Abernathy being interviewed. Abernathy says that Reagan let him down; that Reagan tricked him. Abernathy says that Reagan had promised to meet with him; that Reagan never met with him. Von Mehren reports that Abernathy delivered the eulogy at King's funeral. V: Black and white footage of King's funeral; of Abernathy delivering the eulogy; of mourners at the funeral. Von Mehren reports that Abernathy is now defending himself against charges of betrayal. V: Shot of Abernathy addressing the audience at the Cambridge Baptist Church. Shot of Abernathy's hand. Footage of Abernathy addressing the audience. Abernathy calls King his "buddy." |
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