Op-eds from 1968: Bloomington residents divided by Martin Luther King Jr.'s death, legacy

Editor's note: In honor of Black History Month, The Herald-Times is publishing Black stories, both current and historical, throughout the month of February. A new installment will be published each weekday.

On April 3, 1968, civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated while standing on a balcony outside his second-floor hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee. As the news of King's death spread, the country was gripped with intense mourning over the passing of the revered minister, who had dedicated his life to racial equality in the United States.

Reactions from American citizens varied. While some experienced shock and anger over King's murder, others were apathetic, with several even going as far to say his untimely death directly stemmed from his own actions.

This division across America sometimes manifested in physical ways. According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, "Violence erupted in more than 125 American cities across 29 states. Nearly 50,000 federal troops occupied America’s urban areas. Thirty-nine people were killed and 3,500 injured."

In the weeks following King's assassination, letters from Bloomington residents poured into The Herald-Times, revealing how divisive this time was not only in the country, but in this community.

The H-T here is re-printing three letters from 1968 to paint a clear picture of this division. Two letters refer to Mr. Stancombe, but the H-T was not able to find his letter in its archive. These opinions have not been edited by current Herald-Times staff and have been left as they were originally printed.

Black man in 1968 Bloomington mourns King's passing: 'Our country is crumbling'

"Today I became a man like millions of other Black males of my race. A man is not a man if he will not die for his convictions. I had that ideal latently for a long time but I now have had an internal revelation and it's no longer subconscious. A great man died on April 4, 1968; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. died by the identical violent reactions that he tirelessly suppressed in American Blacks. It grieves my soul to think of his physical disposal but his intangible dream for equality of his race cannot be washed from the minds of every black American. Dr. King was not blind nor was he a wishful thinker and his dream will become a realization. The swiftness of his dream's coming lies not only with diligent continuation of our own black cause but an equal effort on the part of White America.

Yes, our country is indeed a racist society. We have absorbed another racist action. I hate to witness or even visualize violent blacks all over our country but it is increasingly a feasible apparition. Only God knows how much the black breed of human being can withstand. We are like a ship out at sea with no port to seek refuge from the storm. God knows a man being human will turn his cheek so many times before he strikes back; he will suppress so much anger until an explosion results. I love my country but likewise love my race. Making a choice between the two today may seem premature but tomorrow, well what about tomorrow? My race and their total conduct toward racist incidents proves that they are of good stock. There must be a revolution in our country, not the physical, but the revolution of ideas and ideals that must pass on from our generation to the next.

There are radicals in causes and as the cause grows longer, the radicals grow stronger. Patrick Henry our great American Patriot, was once a radical because he wanted to violently strike back at his oppressors, but now he is held in esteem regard. Stokely Carmichael and Rap Brown are radicals and what they will evolve into in the future depends upon White America. Don't make us wait too long.

We are a troubled race, living in a troubled country, at a troubled time in history. I think President Johnson took the right step when he gave his black national minority priority over the war in Vietnam. Our country is crumbling at its foundations, how can America be the protector of universal freedom if there is no America. Dear God I hope we wake up before it is too late.

In conclusion I think white America should not only have lowered heads over the senseless and racist murder of Dr. King but be ashamed of the fact that a man gave his life for something which should be inherently inborn to him, equality.

— Reginald Ford, A Black Man"

Baptist preacher criticizes Martin Luther King: 'apostle of discord, anarchy and violence'

"Usually I don't enter into many controversies but I think that to remain silent is a greater error. The flood of letters that have poured in with an emotional jargon that is indicative of a total lack of knowledge of what is going on in the world and of the signs of the times as recorded in God's word.

As an America, Christian, and a Baptist preacher, I abhor the violence and lawlessness that brings such a brutal murder as that of Dr. Martin Luther King; and my sympathies go out to his widow and his children.

However, I also abhor the form of intimidation, as reflected in these letters, that has gripped our country so that men no longer dare to stand and be counted in matters of truth and righteousness.

The truth is that Mr. King was an apostle of discord, anarchy and violence. Although he used phrases of nonviolence, his appearances always started open violence. He kept the laws he wanted to and broke others on the basis that he could do that which was right in his own eyes, regardless of how others suffered by his actions. It is very probable that he sowed the seeds of violence that led to his own violent death. Violence is still raging through our land. Mr. King has been associated with numerous pro-communist and socialist movements. He was a tool in the hands of communists whether consciously or otherwise, and was part of the overall communist conspiracy to destroy this country. He did more in the past ten years of his life to stir up violence, hatred and strife in this nation than any other man of this era.

Mr. Stancombe and I are not alone. Congressman John M. Ashbrock [sic] of Ohio said, 'I believe he (Dr. King) has done more for the communist part than any other person of our decade.' J. Edgar Hoover said, 'The most notorious liar in the country.' President J.H. Jackson of National Baptist Convention (colored) said, 'Designing the tactics that led to a fatal risk.'

I regret the emotional preaching that is being spread abroad throughout the land that seek to morally involve every American in this deed — I regret all of this violence under the hypothetical cloak of non-violence but my sorrow, my mourning and my shame is for our beloved nation that is torn by class and racial hatreds as a result of King, Carmichael and Rap Browns.

Have we lost the courage to be Americans and face reality? Where is the patriotism, individualism and dignity of our founding fathers? We are being coerced to buy the favor of those that are guilty of rebellion and even treason. These things cannot be bought or legislated but must come from within. Our foreign policy should prove this without doubt.

I pray God that Americans will wake up, turn back to God and seek His favor before it is too late — if it is not already too late.

― Don Easton, Pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church"

Anonymous author: 'these are trying times for men's souls'

"There has never been a leader who has not received some kind of criticism. And there is always someone who will call you a Communist if your ideas differ from theirs. And if the truth were told a lot of them don't know what a Communist is. It's just a dirty word they use.

I may not have approved of all the things Dr. King did or just how he did them. But there is no other leader I would have approved of 100%, no matter who.

I just think that Dr. King did to the best of his knowledge in trying to get the Negro people their equal rights in our American way of life. And it is well on its way now so it looks like he almost got the job done — although it has a long way to go yet. But this is what counts, no matter what some people think. And a true Communist, who is out to overthrow our government, would not care for this. It only defeats their purpose in keeping this country tore apart.

So now is the time to unite and forget skin color and be a strong America with vision and good leadership. And to regain our honor with other countries without buying it. We should know this by now. Other countries also respect good sound leadership out of us.

And Rev. Don Easton and Mr. Stancombe are only concerned as any good American and are entitled to their views. And furthermore, I do not think it is too late.

But these are trying times for men's souls and we cannot afford to be narrow minded, and yet we must move with caution. And no man can do very much as long as he is left in isolation. I am getting tired of talking to myself.

Where is some of our great leaders? Have they gone and hid themselves? Or are there any around? Or have they all been killed off?

― JEL"

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: How Bloomington reacted when Martin Luther King Jr. died in 1968