Memphis sanitation strike book

This thread of challenging constraints to political imagination connects kings work from montgomerys bus boycott to the memphis sanitation workers strike. This historical fiction picture book presents the story of nineyearold lorraine jackson, who in 1968 witnessed the memphis sanitation strike when her father, a sanitation worker, participated in the protest. Additional features include a timeline of the sanitation strike, information about the national civil rights museum in memphis, a list of sources, and source notes. Gregory christie, is not the story of a single man it is the story of a collective struggle. Check back frequently as new issues will be released as we move towards and past april 4th. The memphis strike, martin luther kings last campaign norton, 2007. The workers of the memphis sanitation strike 1968 i am a man. However, join us as we host events in the cossitt courtyard and across downtown memphis. Explore free books, like mother goose picture puzzles, and more browse now. The strike that brought hope to memphis sanitation workers. Feb 12, 1968 late last night, roughly 400 to 700 members of the citys public works division, mostly men from the sanitation department, voted to go on strike. But it got to the point, he recalls, where we didnt have any choice. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

One of the greatest stories of all times the memphis sanitation workers strike remembered. On a cold, rainy afternoon in 1968 a memphis garbage truck malfunctioned and killed the two garbage packers riding inside. It shows how memphiss black community rallied behind a strike led by 1,300 sanitation workers for a living wage, summed up by the slogan i am a man. In 1968 memphis, sanitation workers existed in a netherworld between the plantation and the modern urban economy. The memphis sanitation strike in 1968, which led to the assassination of dr. In february 1968, two african american sanitation workers were killed by unsafe equipment in memphis. Their deaths, along with the racist treatment of the sanitation workers, led more than 1,100 workers to strike for better wages, conditions, and safety on feb. The memphis sanitation strike, 1968 a short history of the 1968 strike of 0 africanamerican sanitation workers in memphis, tennessee, during which martin luther king jr. How covid19 is affecting the citys services for the.

Mar 16, 2020 organizations providing shelter and other services to homeless individuals in memphis remain open, but are making changes to the way they serve amid the outbreak of covid19. The naacp, ministers, students and community leaders both black and white, including dr. The night before his assassination in april 1968, martin luther king told a group of striking sanitation workers in memphis, tennessee. In memphis, africanamericans were shut out of jobs that paid an honest wage. The sanitation strike of 1968, written by alice faye duncan and illustrated by r. Memphis sanitation workers strike 1968 a selection of booksebooks available in trible library.

Look up memphis in wiktionary, the free dictionary. An article from the american prospect in january, 2007, by peter dreier distinguished professor of politics at occidental college, tells the story of why martin luther king, jr. In this lesson, students will learn about the 1968 memphis sanitation workers strike by first hearing the testimonies of two former workers involved in the strike and then completing a reading that places the mens stories in a greater historical context. I went looking for a book about the 1968 sanitation strike that i could share with young readers, but there wasnt one in the. Presented by the history department of the memphis public libraries, this sanitation strike exhibit is a snapshot of the times surrounding the strike in 1968. This historical fiction picture book presents the story of nineyearold lorraine jackson, who in 1968 witnessed the memphis sanitation strikedr.

Less well known is that memphis sanitation workers, inspired by their counterparts in. In this impressive picture book, a character inspired by an african american family involved in the 1968 memphis sanitation strike tells her firstperson account of the experience in verse and prose. Sanitation strike exhibit memphis public libraries. A selection of bookse books available in trible library. Citing years of poor treatment, discrimination, dangerous working conditions, and the horrifying recent deaths of echol cole and robert walker, some 0 black sanitation workers walked off the job in protest.

This timeline tracks the series of events surrounding the memphis sanitation workers strike that began in february, 1968, including the ive been to the mountaintop speech by dr. The memphis sanitation workers strike and mlks unfinished. On february 12th, 1968, the memphis sanitation strike began in response of the deaths of sanitation workers echol cole and robert walker. Many white and black americans in memphis took pride in the way their community had avoided the violence that accompanied integration in other places. Conditions for black sanitation workers worsened when henry loeb became mayor in january 1968. At the river i stand is an exhaustive look at the memphis sanitation strike stemming from a series of oral histories collected by the memphis search for meaning. After two men were crushed in a garbage truck, more than 1,300 memphis sanitation workers went on strike 50 years ago to protest abysmal wages and. Elmore nickelberry, who still works a memphis sanitation route, was married with three children at the time of the strike.

It was the last straw for the citys more than 1,000 sanitation workers, who walked off the job in protest of the conditions. The memphis sanitation workers strike is now connected to the iconic i am a man slogan, which verbalized their humanity as men not a boy, garbage man, sanitation worker, but a man. About memphis, martin, and the mountaintop this historical fiction picture book for children ages 912 presents the story of nineyearold lorraine jackson, who in 1968 witnessed the memphis sanitation strikedr. The ugly memphis sanitation workers strike that led to mlks assassination in the washington post.

The union, which had been granted a charter by afscme in 1964, had attempted a strike in 1966, but failed in large part because workers were unable to arouse the support of memphis religious community or middle class. He chronicled the civil rights movement, but was revealed to. Then two sanitation workers were chewed up like garbage in the back of a faulty truck. The complex story of civil rights photographer ernest. Longstanding tensions between disgruntled african american sanitation workers and memphis city officials erupted on february 12, 1968 when nearly one thousand workers refused to report to work demanding higher wages, safer working conditions, and recognition of their union, local 1733 of the american federation of state, county, and municipal. This historical fiction picture book for children ages 912 presents the story of nineyearold lorraine jackson, who in 1968 witnessed the memphis sanitation strikedr. Jones and had the support of jerry wurf, president of the american federation of state, county, and municipal employees afscme and the local branch of the national association for the advancement of colored people naacp. Want to learn what is happening at each branch of the memphis public libraries. Memphis sanitation workers went on strike 50 years ago. Martin luther king and the memphis sanitation strike, 52. Each fullpage spread functions as a chapter withinformative back matter whichincludes a time line and source notes. In february 1968, two african american sanitation workers were killed by unsafe equipment in memphis, tennessee. I went looking for a book about the 1968 sanitation strike that i could share with young readers, but there wasnt one in the library. Historian ryan jones explains the events leading up to the strike and the role it played in bringing martin.

The strike that brought mlk to memphis in his final days, martin luther king jr. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title memphis. Each fullpage spread functions as a chapter withinformative back. Memphis sanitation workers strike the martin luther. Timeline of events surrounding the 1968 memphis sanitation workers strike. A selection of booksebooks available in trible library. New jerusalem baptist church is a thriving bible centered church that impacts all facets of the community and engages its youth to be future leaders for christ. How memphis has changed since mlk assassination, sanitation strike. Members of new yorks uniformed sanitationmens association, teamsters, local. We returned to the city to see what has changedand what hasnt. Information about the book, memphis, martin, and the mountaintop. Or better still, pick up michael honeys book going down jericho road. Timeline of events surrounding the 1968 memphis sanitation.

Honey does an excellent job of bringing together the facts surrounding the 1968 sanitation workers strike in memphis, tn and its intersection with mlks poor peoples campaign. Geoffrey fletcher has been set to write i am a man, a film based on michael k. Thanks to the author, download a copy of the book in pdf for free via the memphis public libraries. Click the title for location and availability information. Fifty years ago, photographer ernest withers took an iconic photograph of memphis sanitation workers on strike. Bartlett library monday closed tuesday closed wednesday closed thursday closed friday closed saturday closed sunday closed branch manager 5884 stage rd. Then on february 12, 1968, about of the citys 1100 sanitation workers went on strike. How memphis has changed since martin luther king jr. The 1968 memphis strike was not the first time king had reached out. The sanitation strike of 1968 is a 2018 childrens picture book told in poetry and prose by writer alice faye duncan and.

Honeys book about the 1968 memphis sanitation workers strike. Each branch of the memphis public libraries now has its own location page on facebook. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. King provided a boost in morale, and brought national attention to the treatment of black working men, but the strike itself was. A historical fiction picture book that presents the story of nineyearold lorraine jackson, who in 1968 witnessed the memphis sanitation strike. African american sanitation workers echol cole and robert walker were crushed to death on feb. New book takes a new perspective on 1968 memphis sanitation strike. His nonviolent strategy was sorely tested during the 65 day strike, and on april 4, he was murdered. One of the greatest stories of all times the memphis. The deaths served as a breaking point for more than 1,300 african american men from the memphis department of public works as they demanded higher wages, time and a half overtime, dues checkoff, safety measures, and pay for the rainy days when they were told to go home.

Memphis, martin, and the mountaintop by alice faye duncan. This is a musthave for lessons on the civil rights movement, and especially the memphis sanitation strike and the death of martin luther king, jr. Memphis sanitation workers strike 1968 primary sources. The memphis sanitation strike began on february 11, 1968 in memphis, tennessee. King joined their struggle to his growing nationwide poor peoples campaign. In february of 1968, a century after emancipation, the shameful jim crow era was alive and well in the american south. In february of 1968, 1100 africanamerican memphis sanitation workers went on strike. In february 1968, two african american sanitation workers were killed by unsafe this historical fiction picture book presents the story of nineyearold lorraine jackson, who in 1968 witnessed the memphis sanitation strikedr.