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My grandfather passed away in spring on the day after my birthday. We couldn't see him because of the coronavirus.
I'm finding solace in looking at his old work during his years as a reporter. Yesterday, I got this in the mail: his notebook from Selma, Alabama.
I'm finding solace in looking at his old work during his years as a reporter. Yesterday, I got this in the mail: his notebook from Selma, Alabama.
He was a reporter for Time during the civil rights movement, and was right alongside then 25-yo John Lewis and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during their preparations to march from Selma to Montgomery.
1:30 - John Lewis: "don't let anything, not one thing, turn us around."
1:30 - John Lewis: "don't let anything, not one thing, turn us around."
He jotted down questions for local officials:
"How much force is necessary to stop people who don't fight back?"
"How much force is necessary to stop people who don't fight back?"
This particular notebook dates to March 9, the day Martin Luther King Jr. led marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
At 3am, a note on Dr. King: "King decided my conscience tells me we must move."
At 3am, a note on Dr. King: "King decided my conscience tells me we must move."
Notes on tear gas and broken bones (dozens had been injured already in the two days prior).
"Tear gas may make you temporarily blind. Do not become panic stricken."
"If a bone broken - do not leave the person."
"We will be there with you."
"Tear gas may make you temporarily blind. Do not become panic stricken."
"If a bone broken - do not leave the person."
"We will be there with you."
It's remarkable to see these quotes scribbled hastily so he wouldn't miss a word. I can imagine him straining to hear the speakers, knowing he needed to get it right.
King: "I would rather die on the highway of Ala. than make a butchery of my conscience."
King: "I would rather die on the highway of Ala. than make a butchery of my conscience."
Here is the piece he filed to his editors at Time a few days after King's funeral in 1968.
"Though sponsored by tragedy, the march Martin King led in death was grander than any of the hundreds he led in life."
"Though sponsored by tragedy, the march Martin King led in death was grander than any of the hundreds he led in life."
Here’s a picture from the last time I saw him in person - February 2020.
He told me he was so proud that I had joined @WSJ.
Folks reading this thread: please support journalism and journalists!
He told me he was so proud that I had joined @WSJ.
Folks reading this thread: please support journalism and journalists!
Worth noting something that my grandma just pointed out: he occasionally passed this notebook to his friend and colleague in Time's Atlanta bureau, Roger Williams, who was on the ground with him (as shown here).
They tag-teamed the reporting process!
They tag-teamed the reporting process!
I am so grateful to everyone who has reached out.
Thank you to those who knew him who have reached out to share memories.
Thank you to those contacting me who have also lost loved ones after the pandemic and experienced that helpless ache of not being able to see them.
Thank you to those who knew him who have reached out to share memories.
Thank you to those contacting me who have also lost loved ones after the pandemic and experienced that helpless ache of not being able to see them.
Thank you to those who had parents/grandparents marching or working as journalists that day on the Edmund Pettus Bridge who have asked me to keep an eye out for their loved one's names in his notes.
Thank you to the person who, purely out of the kindness of their heart, enhanced all the pages for readability and sent them back to me (!!)
