CORBIN — By John L. Ross / Staff Writer

Oppression.

Inequality.

Injustice.

Inaction.

The American Civil Rights Movement which swept through the United States in the middle of the 20th century saw much of that and more.

Several faces were brought to the forefront of the national spotlight during the nation’s struggle to reach equality, but none so much as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Born Jan. 15, 1929, King would have been 84 last week — had a sniper’s bullet not felled him in western Tennessee nearly 45 years ago.

King went all the way with his education, receiving his doctorate degree in 1955.

The previous year, King became pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. and was already a member of the executive board of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).

In early December 1955, King led the first black non-violent demonstration — a bus boycott which lasted for more than a year.

The boycott stemmed from a group of black women, mostly maids, who were tired of unequal treatment.

Despite being arrested, facing personal abuse and having his house bombed, King continued to lead the boycott until the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation of passengers on buses was unconstitutional.

More than six million miles were traveled by King during his leadership of the movement during the late 1950s and 1960s — in any place where injustice and inequality presided over, King was there.

As time went on, the violence and danger continued to increase — and King was there.

Then in February 1968, 1,300 black sanitation workers went on strike in Memphis, Tenn. King learned nearly two dozen sanitation workers for the city were sent home without pay during bad weather in January — all of whom were black.

All the city’s white employees remained on duty.

When negotiations failed, King was asked to visit the city in support of the striking workers. In March that year, he stopped in Memphis and spoke to more than 15,000 at Mason Temple. Less than two weeks later, King led a protest march in Memphis. During that protest, some of the demonstrators smashed a storefront window, which led to more violence, which was answered by police with tear gas and nightsticks.

At least one of those protestors was shot and killed.

King was upset about that outburst of violence during his march, and vowed to not allow violence to prevail.

The evening before his assassination, King delivered his “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop” speech, which he ended with, “Well, I don’t know what will happen now; we’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop.

“And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life — longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the Promised Land. And so I’m happy tonight; I’m not worried about anything; I’m not fearing any man.

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

The next evening, King and several other guests were preparing to have dinner with Minister Billy Kyles. King was staying at the Lorraine Motel. As King and Kyles descended the stairs, the shot rang out.

King crumbled to the balcony floor, a gunshot wound to the jaw.

Despite the best medical efforts, King was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. April 4, 1968. He was 39 years old.

In the years since, national, state and local leaders have worked toward improving race relations, always remembering the struggle blacks faced during the years of slavery as well as the century of oppression before the Civil Rights Movement took the national stage.

The United States has made great strides in promoting unity between the races, and the spirit of that unity was alive and well Monday in London.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration was a day-long event at the London Community Center which culminated into a march from the courthouse to the community center.

Freezing temperatures and high winds did little to dampen the spirit of the day, and after some short remarks and a prayer, marchers took to the street, singing “This Little Light Of Mine.” Leading the charge was the South Laurel High School ROTC presenting the colors.

When marchers made their way into the community center, after warming themselves up, they sat to hear the program for the evening.

Minister Tony Riley, of Twin Oak Pentecostal Church, offered the Scripture. Altamont Baptist Church choir gathered on stage to sing. Gary Adamson and Camille Belser gave their rendition of “I Look To You.” Adamson also sang “Walk With Me.” Also tapped to sing was Evangelist Jake Ravizee, of Lynch, who serves a second term as the London District Missionary Minister.

The top three essay contest winners were also recognized. Rebecca Riley was first place winner, second place was Courtney Parker, and third was Constance Parker.

The main speaker for the evening was the Rev. Andrew Baskin, pastor of Hamilton Chapel Baptist Church in Flat Lick and First Vice-Moderator of the London Missionary Baptist Association.

Baskin titled his speech “The Mark of Greatness” and began with what he termed as “a bold statement.”

He said King “was the greatest American to have ever lived in all our country’s history.”

A few audience members vocalized their agreement.

Baskin said he wants people to think when he makes that statement.

“History has taught us that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln (were considered the greatest men),” he said. “They were great in their seasons, (but King) dared to finish what they had started.”

He continued to speak of King’s sacrifice.

“King was a martyr,” Baskin said. “He gave up his life for what he believed.”

Baskin also talked about an attack King suffered while in Harlem. During a book signing in 1958, a middle-aged black woman named Izola Curry stabbed King in the chest with a letter opener. Baskin said it took three hours to remove the letter opener from his chest, and doctors had said if King had sneezed at all, the tip would have severed his aorta, likely killing him.

“King was close to death,” Baskin said. “But he pressed on.”

He also said King made Americans think.

“He challenged (all) Americans, from the back of the bus to the front of the bus,” Baskin said. “Thank God for the dreamer, thank God for Dr. King.”

He added that King’s dream has been fully realized with President Barack Obama’s election and subsequent re-election into the White House.

“He (Obama) believed it could happen,” Baskin said.

“Despite personal flaws, Dr. King achieved the Mark of Greatness,” he continued. “He was a teacher, and a servant.”

The closing prayer for the evening’s festivities was the Rev. Terry Jackson with Altamont Baptist Church. A dinner followed the celebration.