1968

The Most Revolutionary Year of the Twentieth

Century: Part 1

No one can forget about 1968. It was one of the most important years in human history. From
wars to protests for civil rights, humanity saw monumental changes in the world. The world that we
see now in the Summer of 2018 has been heavily created in part by the events of 1968. This year
was a worldwide affair with social movements in Paris, Prague, Mexico City, Chicago, and other
places where courageous human beings desired total democratic freedoms. The cause of justice
continues to remain and we will continue to advocate for human liberation.
 The Contents
The Introduction
Genesis
The Fight for Civil Rights
War and Our Urban Areas
Memphis Workers and Dr. King’s Last
Days
Appendix A: The Music of that Era

1968 was a time of monumental
triumphs and tragedies that
simultaneously existed. Back then, I
wasn't born yet, but my parents were
still alive and much younger than 30
years of age during the year of 1968.
This year was one of the most
important, powerful years in human
history. 1968 was a year that
transformed the United States of
America and the world forever.
Political campaigns being abundant,
soldiers were fighting in the
Vietnamese peninsula (with events
like the Tet Offensive and the Battle
of Khe Sanh), and other people
exploring tactics for freedom
dominated the social atmosphere.
The hippie movement flourished
and the Black Power Movement
started to accumulate into its zenith.
Wars, Cold War tensions, the space
race, civil rights, women's rights
activism, Native American political
growth, Latinx social activism, and
other social movements existed
during that age too. Tons of human
beings advanced in the streets to
protest in anti-war rallies. Civil rights
occurrences continued to develop,
college campus events promoted
progressive causes, and anti-Stalinist
activists fought for justice in Prague.
Some of the greatest world leaders
for social change (like Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. and Robert
Kennedy) were viciously assassinated
in 1968. Progressives saw many of
their legitimate policies opposed by
the reactionary, right wing backlash
(which Nixon exploited in order for
him to be elected President by the
end of 1968. Not to mention that
George Wallace's Presidential
campaign of 1968 appealed to
The Introduction
xenophobia and bigotry too. The
police terrorist violence during the
Democratic National Convention in
Chicago also revealed the numerous
divisions found in the Democratic
Party. The audience to that
Convention saw the New Deal
Coalition divided and ruined before
their very eyes. Additionally, 1968
once again detailed the horrendous
reality of police brutality. Journalists,
protesters, and other bystanders were
arrested and callously assaulted by
many reckless, violent police officers
during the Chicago 1968 Democratic
National Convention. Ronald
Reagan, by 1968, was part of the
right wing extremism clique as well.
Ironically, Reagan was once a pro-
FDR New Deal Democrat. By the
1950's, Ronald Reagan became one of
the most conservative politicians of
the post-WWII era.
Uncertainty, revolts against
established orders, and continued
fights for justice for all (like Tommie
Smith and John Carlos showing their
black fists in the air during the 1968
Mexico Olympics) all encompass the
firmament of the year of 1968. 1968
has presented the world with a
picture of the best and the worst of
humanity. It involved human beings
who rightfully desired black people
to have absolute equality (like Ella
Baker, Fred Hampton, Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou,
Septima Clark, Ossie Davis, Ruby
Dee, Muhammad Ali, and other
heroes). Also, it was a time when
women desired to have real freedom,
activists fought for the environment
to be protected, and anti-war
protesters wanted the Vietnam War
to completely end. Many came
together to attempt to end poverty
via the Poor People's Campaign.
Sister Shirley Chisholm became the
first African American woman in the
U.S. Congress, which was excellent
news. Conversely, other folks were
exponents of the evils of imperialism,
bigotry, and the status quo. 50 years
later, change has come about among
many avenues, but we still have a
long way to go. Presently, the war on
terror and threats of war (by the
current occupant of the White
House against North Korea in blunt
terms until recently when he had a sit
down with North Korea) in the
Korean peninsula exist.
Furthermore, more social activism
for real change has commenced in
our generation from Black Lives
Matter, the Dream Defenders, and to
the widespread Resistance
movement. Now, it is the time to
evaluate 1968 in all of its intricate
complexities, its profound tragedies,
and its iconic historic events. I will
show three parts of this work on 1968
too.
This first part will show occurrences
from January 1st, 1968 to the
assassination of the late Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. The second part is
from Dr. King's assassination to the
assassination of New York Senator
and Presidential candidate Robert
Francis Kennedy. The final part will
be from the assassination of Robert
Kennedy to the end of 1968. Justice is
always our aim and we believe in the
Dream unconditionally.
 Yes, we still Rise.
The Genesis
The start of 1968 started with colossal events like heroic protests and political campaigns resisting the
Johnson administration’s status quo aims at it relates to foreign policy matters.
The year of 1968 dealt with the issues of civil rights,
gender equality, the Vietnam War, environmental
issues, student movements, technology including the
space race, and the counterculture. By January 14,
1968, the Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl II. The
coach of the Packers was the well-known progressive
Vince Lombardi. By January 15, 1968, Jeannette Rankin
led anti-war protest in Washington, D.C. She was a
Congresswoman from Montana. The motto as it
relates to this movement involved “Sisterhood is
Powerful.” She worked with women among many
colors, political differences, class differences, etc. to seek
an end to the Vietnam War. President Lyndon
Johnson gave his State of the Union address on January
17, 1968. His speech was a combination of trying to
promote his successful policies, but he was overtly
dismayed at criticism of his disastrous policies in the
Vietnam War. LBJ knew that the U.S. was not close to
ending the Vietnam War in private, but he gave more
rosy public face via his Congressional State of the
Union address in order to politically maintain his
inflexible position (while General Westmoreland
constantly expressed the deception that the light was at
the end of the tunnel or American victory was
imminent). The speech failed to promote more unity
in the American electorate as America back in 1968 was
heavily divided on many social and foreign policy
issues. In essence, his speech was a prelude to the
explosion of events that would transpire throughout
the year of 1968. On January 17, 1968, LBJ called for the
non-conversation of the U.S. dollar. 2 days later, Eartha
Kitt was at a White House conference. It talked about
crime and the recent rebellions that came about. Eartha
Kitt was not having a token discussion on crime. She
courageously spoke up and opposed the Vietnam War.
She said that people are suffering in the world and the
Vietnam War must be addressed. Eartha Kitt wanted
black and poor children to be respected of their dignity
without exploitation. She said these words to the First
Lady whose name was Lady Bird Johnson.
Immediately, the FBI and the CIA monitored her and
she was shunned by the establishment via a slander
campaign for years. Eartha Kitt suffered unjustly, but
she was a strong black woman who overcame the
adversity. By the late 1970's, she started her huge
comeback involving theater and acting in general.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the rest of the UCLA team
played against Elvin Hayes and his University of
Houston players on January 20, 1968. The game was
very significant in the history of basketball. The
University of Houston won 71-69 in the first NCAA
basketball game to be televised in a national audience.
This was before March Madness. The Battle of Khe
Sanh started on January 21, 1968 and it lasted to July 9,
1968 (when U.S. forces withdrew from the battle area).
The battle was indecisive as both sides claimed victory
(because Americans claimed that they just withdraw
from the Khe Sanh base to destroy it as it wasn’t
militarily necessary to defend, and the Vietnamese
claimed that it ruled the area after the Americans left).
It occurred on the area of northwestern Quang Tri
Province in Southern Vietnam. U.S. forces defended
Khe Sanh Combat Base by the U.S. Marines, the U.S.
Army, and the U.S. Air Force. Many South Vietnamese
Army forces or the ARVN fought in the battle too. In
January of 1968, tons of music existed from soul, R&B,
rock and roll, gospel, blues, jazz, etc. In that month, the
Beatles were popular, Johnny Cash released music, and
Steppenwolf was popular. Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-
In debuted on NBC on January 22, 1968. It was a
famous sketch comedy show which ended by March 12,
1973. North Korea on the next day seized the USS
Pueblo claiming that the ship violated its territorial
waters while spying. This was an international
incident. It had a crew of 83 people. One person from
America was killed. This came a more than a week after
President Lyndon Johnson gave his State of the Union
address to the United States Congress. The crew of the
Pueblo was taken to Wonsan and moved twice to
POW or prisoner of war camps. The crew said that
they were starved and tortured while in North Korean
custody. There were negotiations for their release. The
U.S. talked with South Koreans involving negotiations
too.
South Koreans were angry at being left out in the
negotiations. The crew was released after the U.S.
apologized, admitted it was spying via the Pueblo, and
the promise that the U.S. won’t use spying in the
future. This was done so the people could be released.
LBJ refused to attack North Korea since he feared that
the crew would be killed if he would have done that.
They were released by December 23, 1968 (in
Panmunjom at the DMZ). The Soviets opposed North
Korea’s actions while the Chinese supported it. On
February 11, 1968, Madison Square Garden in New
York City opened. By February 13, 1968, civil rights
events happened at University of Wisconsin-Madison
and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
February 27, 1968 was when Walter Cronkite said that
the war was a stalemate and the U.S. must withdrawal
in a negotiated settlement. From March 1-8, 1968,
about 15,000 Latino students walked outside of LA
schools in demanding for better education. The
government of Czechoslovakia banned censorship on
March 5, 1968. 500 New York University students
picket a university sponsored recruiting event for Dow
Chemical Company on March 6. Dow manufactured
napalm which has burned the flesh of Vietnamese men,
women, and children. There are pictures showing
Vietnamese children running away from napalm
bombings. On March of 1968, Otis Redding's
posthumous single "(Sittin' On) The Dock of The Bay"
went to #1 US and #3 UK.
 The Fight for Civil Rights
Human beings like African Americans fought for their human rights during the late 1960’s.
Movements for change grew in power and influence throughout America including the world.
One of the biggest tragedies in 1968 was the
Orangeburg Massacre in South Carolina (which was
before the 1970 Kent State shootings and the Jackson
State killings). It took place in Orangeburg, South
Carolina at South Carolina State University. The
situation was about black students opposing the
segregation of black patrons at the All Star Bowling lane
(who was owned by Harry K. Floyd). They or African
American young human beings gathered at February 6,
1968 to protest and desire the end of Jim Crow policies.
Nothing happened. During the next night, many of the
students returned. They protested, but the police
arrested 15 people. The third night was in February 8th,
1968. The tensions were high because of the arrests
during the previous night. The students were on the
South Carolina State University campus instead of the
bowling alley. A bonfire was built. The police tried to
put it out. One cop was injured by a piece of banister
thrown from the crowd. Then, the highway patrolman
overreacted and fired his gun into the air. He wanted to
calm the crowd. Other officers thought that they were
fired upon, which wasn't the case at all. The officers
fired into the crowd of students. Many students were
murdered. Two of them were South Carolina State
University students. Their names are Samuel
Hammond and Henry Smith. Delano Middleton was
killed and he was a high school student. 27 more
students were wounded.
The cops used shotguns and buckshot when they fired
in the crowd. Many victims were shot in their back and
on the soles of their feet. Nine officers killed people and
they were charged with excessive force at a campus
protest. Of course, back then, they were never convicted
which was a disgrace. One person was in placed into
prison whose name was Cleveland Sellers or a member
of SNCC (or the Student Nonviolent Coordinating
Committee). He was convicted of inciting the riot,
which was ludicrous. Cleveland Sellers served seven
months in prison. Sellers was pardoned 25 years later
after his conviction. Then-Governor Governor Robert
E. McNair said that this was "one of the saddest days in
the history of South Carolina." He's right on that point.
He or McNair was wrong to blame Black Power
protests for the violence when the killers of students
were the cops. Sellers would go on to be the director of
the University of South Carolina's African American
Studies Program and President of Voorchees College.
He wrote his autobiography, "The River of No
Return." Sellers wrote that, “In spite of sometimes
overwhelming odds, I never really strayed from my
principles and loyalties. I have developed
d eveloped patience
and constantly renew my dedication to the creation
of a more humane world.” His son is the famous
political leader Bakari T. Sellers. We remember the
events of Orangeburg, South Carolina as a way for us to
continue in our quest for justice for our people.

War and our Urban Areas
Battles didn’t just didn’t occur in Southeast Asia. Rebellions, political tensions, and protests
transpired all over America.
Today is the 50th year anniversary of the Tet
Offensive. This was when Vietnamese forces attacked
the U.S. Embassy in Saigon and other places
throughout Vietnam. Many people died. American
forces were taken by surprise. Back then, many
American people thought the U.S. had a near victory in
the Vietnam War. U.S. soldiers in Vietnam
dramatically increased from about 14,000 in 1964 to
about 500,000 by the end of 1967. More than 2 billion
tons of bombs were dropped in the area along with
thousands of Americans who died from the tragic,
bloody conflict.
Tet was the Vietnamese lunar new year, so many
people in Vietnam were in a celebratory mood. On the
evening of January 30, 1968, many North Vietnamese
military forces disguised themselves as civilians or
South Vietnamese troops. They did this in order to
infiltrate South Vietnam locations and commence with
an all-out military assault around locations throughout
the peninsula. Many of the North Vietnamese forces
hid their weapons in baskets and vegetable carts. Some
The Tet Offensive had three
phases. All three of them
lasted from January 30, 1968
to September 23, 1968. Both
sides experienced large
casualties. The leaders of
America and South Vietnam
were Nguyen Van Thieu, Cao
Van Vien, Lyndon Baines
Johnson, and William
Westmoreland. North
Vietnamese leaders were Le
Duan, Le Duc Tho, Van Tien
Dung, and Hoang Van Thai.
of these forces hid weapons in coffins too during the
holiday of Tet Mau Than.
During the night of January 30, the attack started. 19
V.C. forces left a car and a van with anti-tank rockets
and weapons to fire at the U.S. embassy compound in
Saigon. A VC squadron destroyed a hole in the wall
surrounding the U.S. embassy in Saigon. They rushed
the courtyard of the compound. They couldn't go over
the embassy's wall and door since it was heavily
fortified. So, they pounded the building with
rockets. They exchanged gunfire with the military
police. That advance lasted for more than six hours. It
took U.S. paratroopers (landed by helicopter on the
embassy roof) to stop the North Vietnamese forces.
North Vietnamese people fired with machine guns
across Thong Nhut Boulevard too. Walter Cronkite
from CBS Evening News was shocked by the events.
He said, "What the h___ is going on?...I thought we
were winning the war." Then, North Vietnamese
troops targeted every province and every city in South
Vietnam. American planes were destroyed by the
Communists. Days later, U.S. and South Vietnamese
forces started to win the battle. The city of Hue was
 Maxwell Taylor, former National Security advisor
completely destroyed as it was one of the Communist
McGeorge Bundy, Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas,
holdouts. U.S., AVRN, and North Vietnamese
and Democratic diplomat Averill Harriman. These
causalities were large.
were some of the architects of the war. Taylor and
Bundy worked under the previous Kennedy
On February 1, 1968, the South Vietnamese General
administration. Even George Kennan, who was the
Nguyen Ngoc Loan captured an accused V.C. officer.
founder of the U.S. containment Cold War policy, said
Loan shot the person in the head in cold blood, which
that the Vietnam War was an error of policy. They
killed him without due process. The footage of the
decided that the Vietnam War policy that Johnson
murder was shown on national TV. Before this act,
executed was futile and a de-escalation and negotiation
Loan learned about North Vietnamese forces killing
(excluding an immediate withdrawal) was necessary.
one of his senior officers along with the man's wife and
Johnson was disappointed and said that "the
six kids. This act of brutal murder was condemned
establishment bast___ds bailed out." After Tet, the
worldwide. The photographer Eddie Adams recorded
Vietnam War changed forever and LBJ soon would not
the image which has been shown across the globe.
run for President again. By this time, Dr. King was in
Adams was a friend of Loan and won the Pulitzer Prize
opposition to the war. I was not born during that time,
for his image. Loan wasn't jailed for a war crime, but
but my parents were alive back then. 1968 was a year of
came into Virginia. He lived until 1998 when he was
massive change and one of the most revolutionary years
running a pizza parlor. After the Tet Offensive, more
in human history.
people realize that the war was a stalemate. LBJ knew
of this and hid a lot of this information from the public
It has been 50 years since the Kerner Commission
for fear of being labeled as someone losing the war. The
report, which was released on February 28, 1968. This
Tet Offensive established a new era of the war and
came about in the midst of rebellions in America from
ultimately the anti-war movement grew in power. The
1963 to 1968 (i.e. Philadelphia and Rochester had
American forces won the Tet Offensive which
rebellions in 1964, we remember Watts in 1965, there
included the massive bombing of the city of Hue.
was many rebellions in Cleveland and Chicago in 1966,
33,000 North Vietnamese forces were killed along with
and there were some in Newark plus Detroit in 1967.
3,400 allied forces. The media showed the footage of
There were the others in 1968 after the King
Tet nationwide and skepticism by Americans about the
assassination). It was a time of massive changes in
Vietnam War increased. Many soldiers opposed the
America. To understand the rebellions, we have to
war and mutinies developed as well. Walter Cronkite
look at the time period back during the 1960’s. First,
called for a negotiated end to the Vietnam War and
there was a post-World War II economic boom, but
LBJ was reported to have said that if he lost Cronkite,
that expansion wasn’t enough to end poverty and
he lost Middle America. From March 25-26, 1968,
oppression in America. That is why the New Frontier
political establishment figures known as the "Wise
and the Great Society social programs existed as a
Men" talked with LBJ about the Vietnam War. These
means to address economic complications that
men were participants of the Cold War and knew of
transpired in American society. By the 1960’s, West
the dire situation. The Wise men included Dean
Germany and Japan improved its economy (via help
Acheson, former ambassador to Vietnam General
from the Allies from World War 2 ironically enough oppressed. The sad part is that there has been no
via the Marshall Plan, etc.). Both countries competed massive social or political reform in the federal level (on
against America for cars, certain metal materials, and a massive scale) since the 1960’s except a handful of
other resources. There was the Vietnam War which items. Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act, and
increased inflation and there was the massive the Voting Rights Act all came about during the
deindustrialization of American urban centers. This 1960’s. The imperialist war in Vietnam resulted in
deindustrialization was part of jobs being stripped failure and it caused pressure on the dollar. Today, the
from the cities and placed into the suburbs and rural majority of the wealth in America is owned by the
areas (for production) by corporate interests. Those, in wealthy few and the working class struggle for the basic
the urban communities, of legitimate
especially among the necessities. President
poor, suffered a great deal Lyndon Baines
of lax schools, lax wages, Johnson refused to
and desperation from a legislatively sign
socioeconomic onto any provisions
standpoint. Police from the Kerner
misconduct triggered the Commission even
many rebellions of the The image to the left showed the ruins of Hue in 1968 via with its legitimate
bombings which occurred after the initial Tet Offensive. The
1960’s as well. proposals. That is
image on the right showed the Kerner Commission
why we have to
members with President Johnson. Class oppression and
The Kerner Commission racial justice are twin evils that must be fought against in
understand these
report accurately order for communities to develop into its highest potential. realities in order for
mentioned that racism, Western capitalism (which is dominated by a small super solutions to
economic exploitation, wealthy core. The majority of the world’s population is made transpire.
and segregation were up of the working class & the poor) is complicit in a
contributing factors to predatory profit system harming urban plus rural areas in On March 11, 1968,
the rebellions. Capitalistic America including the vicious imperialism overseas. U.S. President
exploitation continues to Lyndon B. Johnson
harm lives to this very day just like back in the day. mandated that all computers purchases by the federal
People suffered overcrowded neighborhoods, government support the ASCII character encoding.
substandard housing, and police harassment plus From November 1967 to early 1968, Eugene
violence constantly. This commission was chaired by McCarthy's Presidential campaign was very powerful.
Illinois Democratic Governor Otto Kerner. The report Eugene McCarthy publicly announced his candidacy
was a 426 page document (a 600 page paperback for the 1968 Presidential election on November 30,
version of the document was released too). It called for 1968 at the age of 51. Many of his supporters were
a solution that was far reaching. It wanted the creation middle class young people and college educated human
of 2 million new jobs, 1 million would be created by beings. Some cut their hair to be "Clean for Gene."
direct government spending, 6 million housing units, They traveled the nation, they used telephones to gain
and the expanding welfare system (to increase more supporters, and they had enthusiasm. Eugene
people eligible for it). It wanted a guaranteed McCarthy was a liberal candidate, but many people
minimum income for all Americans and more funding believed that he had less of a charisma than a Robert
for city schools equal to wealthier schools. Could you Kennedy (who refused to run for President first. Back
imagine someone proposing this wide ranging plan in then, many initially criticized RFK for running for
2018? That is taboo today, but many people even back President late while McCarthy came about earlier to
then had the sense enough to realize accurately that challenge LBJ). One volunteer in favor of Eugene
large investments are necessary to help the poor and the McCarthy said the following, "There was the whole
'children's crusade' aspect, with Gene as the father
whom we would have like to have. Instead of having
this warmonger redneck [LBJ], we had an educated,
gentle man. Instead of an eagle, we had a dove." The
New Hampshire primary of March 12, 1968 was
historic. LBJ on won by a small margin to the antiwar
candidate Eugene McCarthy (Nixon won 78 percent of
the in the GOP New Hampshire primary). McCarthy
had 42 percent of the Democratic vote while LBJ had
48 percent after the end of the New Hampshire
primary. This showed the divisions in the country and
in the Democratic Party over Vietnam. McCarthy first
ran the race against Johnson on the issue of opposing
the Vietnam War. The My Lai Massacre took place on
March 16, 1968. It was about some American troops
killing scores of Vietnamese civilians. It would only be
made public by November in 1969.
On March 16, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy
announced publicly his candidacy for the race of the
Democratic Party Presidential nomination. He won on
the platform of ending the Vietnam War via a
negotiation settlement, anti-pollution, gun control,
decentralization of power, and racial plus social justice.
Initially, some liberals criticized him for joining the race
too late. Jacqueline Kennedy feared that RFK would be
Recognizing Historic Civil Rights Legislation
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964)
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Fair Housing Act of 1968
assassinated like her late husband. Robert Kennedy
continued onward. Robert Kennedy wasn't the same
man who once worked with Joseph McCarthy. He was
a more progressive man and Robert Kennedy did talk
about uniting black people, white people, Latinx
human beings, young, old, poor, and the more affluent
in building a coalition to change America. There was a
demonstration in London’s Grosvenor Square against
the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. There was
violence there as 91 people were injured and 200
demonstrators were arrested. The U.S. Congress ended
the requirement for a gold reserve to back U.S.
currency on March 18. Students at Howard University
fought for black studies from March 19-23, 1968. They
promoted a new era of student activism on college
campuses. Students staged rallies, protests, and there
was a 5 day sit-in. They were at the administration
building and shut down the university in protest over
its ROTC program and the Vietnam War. They
wanted a more progressive, Afrocentric curriculum.
The movement in Howard University influenced the
promotion of Black Studies, women’s studies, and
other forms of studies nationwide to this very day.
It banned segregation in public
accommodations, increased federal authority
to enforce school desegregation, and it
outlawed discrimination in employment on
the basis of race, color, and sex.
It eliminated the poll tax as a voting
requirement.
It banned literacy tests as a voting
requirement and it empowered the federal
government to supervise voter registration
and election.
It banned discrimination in housing.
 Memphis Workers and Dr. King's Last Days
The last crusade of social justice by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. involved the Memphis sanitation
strike. He wanted working men to have economic justice and all people to exist in equality. He
gave his life for the cause of labor rights and for the poor plus the oppressed.
Today is the 50th Year Anniversary of the Memphis
Sanitation strike (Memphis is in the South and many
black people back then were restricted in land rights,
educational opportunities, and other human rights).
The sanitation workers' strike was about black men
and black women uniting to fight for the right of
sanitation workers to have unions, to have benefits, to
have living wages, and to have other economic rights
that they deserve. Many of the sanitation workers were
sharecroppers in Jim Crow South. The struggle took
many days. Many people protested, organized plans,
used civil disobedience, etc. against the reactionary
mayor Henry Loeb (who even resisted the workers
from forming a public union). Baxter Leach was one
surviving striker who loved what he did 50 years ago.
Many of the strikers worked together in knowing each
other's wives, children, and friends for the common
cause of economic justice. More and more stories about
the wives of the strikers are coming to light in order for
the world to know that black women have always had a
leadership role in the black freedom movement in
general. You can't love black people without loving
black women. It is as simple as that. About 1300 men
were involved in the sanitation strikes and these men's
wives also participated in the strikes as well. Jimmie
Leach was the wife of Baxter Leach. Helen Turner was
the wife of Alvin Turner. Helen Turner said that she
passed out literature and did other heroic actions to
support the human rights of sanitation workers.
Beverly Turner applauded her mother's strength and
her mother is Helen Turner. Dorothy McGowan is the
daughter of Dorothy Pointdexter who told her story
about the time too. Florence Ueal was the wife of the
striker Ozell Ueal. Florence said that when someone
puts her husband down, it is like putting her down too.
The wives worked in various jobs too like being maids.
Michael Leach is the son of Jimmie Leach and Michael
talked about struggling to find food and other supplies.
Lillie Philips Lee is the daughter of Savannah Phillips
(who is the wife of the one of the striking workers).
Lillie talked about the struggles that her family
experienced decades ago. The wives supported their
husbands 100 percent. The organization of WOMEN
was formed standing for Women on the Movement for
Equality Now. This group was made up of women
who wanted sanitation workers to have economic
justice. It included many wives of the striking workers
too.
Also, Dr. King was there to give solidarity with the
workers and he advocated a boycott, civil disobedience,
and other acts of resistance against the power structure.
During this era of the late 1960's, Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. was heavily unpopular in America. The far
right with anti-Communist extremists and the FBI
(with Hoover and William Sullivan) falsely accused
him of being a Communist. The FBI used extrajudicial
and illegal monitoring of Dr. King and his associates
nationwide constantly. Some Black Power advocates
viewed him as too old fashioned for his advocacy of
nonviolence. Many of them would consequently
embrace black capitalism and conservative tenets of a
narrow version of nationalism (plus other reactionary
positions) instead of black progressive liberation.
Ironically, Dr. King was more progressive &
revolutionary than many of them on issues of poverty,
economic justice, anti-imperialism, housing, anti-
Vietnam War activism, and on other issues.
Dr. King called for a radical redistribution of economic
and political power (which was one ideal represented in
his Poor People's Campaign. This was a multiracial
movement to eliminate poverty in America. Dr. King
was inspired by welfare rights activists and Mary
Wright Edelman to go forward with that program
while the Memphis sanitation movement was going on
at the same time). He praised democratic socialism. Dr.
King believed that it was hypocritical for the
government of America to send billions of dollars to
bomb a village in Vietnam while refusing to send
billions of dollars to help the poor in America. He's
100% right. Dr. King knew the economic roots of racial
injustice in that economic inequality must be abolished
too not just Jim Crow apartheid. In other words, it's
great to end racial segregation, but people need living
wages, jobs, and real economic justice too. James Riley,
J.L. McClain, and others did their part as striking
workers. The strike existed after the unfortunate deaths
of Robert Walker and Echol Cole who just wanted
protection from the rain. On March 28, 1968, the 16
year old teenager named Larry Payne was shot and
killed by the police in Memphis (during the time of the
Memphis sanitation movement). It was on a Thursday
when one protest ended in violence by many people
who had no affiliation whatsoever with the Memphis
sanitation protest movement. During that day, police
brutality was abundant and many people were beaten
by the police. Michael Brown was a witness to the
murder of Larry Payne. He said that one large cop
ordered Payne out. Payne came out with his hands up
over his head. After a few words, then the cop killed
Larry Payne. Another witness who said the exact, same
story, was Craig Rudley. The nurse assistant Frankie
Mae Parker tried to find a pulse, but she couldn't find
one. The funeral of Larry Payne took place on April 2,
1968 at Clayborn Temple. Many strikers were there in
attendance. The murderer officer Leslie Dean Jones
was never charged, which was disgraceful. Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. called Payne's mother, Lizzie Payne, on
the phone to console her after her son's brutal death at
the hands of Patrolman Leslie Dean Jones. Rev.
Lawson talked about the unjust murder of Larry Payne
(who had a shotgun bullet in his stomach) in the April
3, 1968 speech at Mason Temple just before Dr. King
spoke. The Memphis sanitation workers (which
included heroes like H. B. Crockett, Russell Walton, J.
L. McClain, etc.) were victorious via courage and
commitment to the cause of workers' rights. Also, we
honor the black heroes of every background who stood
up for the diverse movements of social change as well.
On the evening of March 31, 1968, one of the most
shocking news of 1968 transpired. That was when
President Lyndon Baines Johnson announced that he
will not seek re-election. This happened because of
divisions in America, pressure from his advisors (as
some of them wanted LBJ to change course and end
the bombing of the Vietnamese territories), his health
(as doctors said that his smoking would cause his
longevity to end very soon), and the risk of defeat
during the Democratic primary. Afterwards, he would
be more apt to negotiate for some settlement after years
of brutal imperialism.
Lyndon Baines Johnson (in his March 31 speech)
echoed those sentiments of desperation along with
promoting of a partial bombing halt plus seeking new
peace initiatives (he wanted to strengthen South
Vietnamese army forces including turning more of the
fighting over to them, which was similar to the Nixon
plan of Vietnamization). LBJ said the following words:
"...There is a divisiveness among us all tonight. And
holding the trust that is mine, as President of all the
people. I cannot disregard the peril to the progress of
the American people and the hope and the prospect of
peace for all people...Believing this as I do, I have
concluded that I should not permit the Presidency to
become involved in the partisan divisions that are
developing in this political year....Accordingly, I shall
not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my
party for another term as your President."
America was shocked by this news. LBJ had signed
some of the greatest progressive legislation in history
(in fighting racial discrimination, sexual discrimination,
pollution, poverty, health care disparities, and other
evils), but his Presidency ended under the disastrous
cloud of Vietnam.
A lot of words describe the film, "2001: A Space
Odyssey." Epic, ahead of its time, powerful, and very
creative define its characteristics. It was one of the most
influential films in human history and basically
modernized science fiction films forever. It was
directed by the genius Stanley Kubrick. Its special
effects, its technological developments, and its story
line have stood the test of time. It has been over 50
years since its release on April 2, 1968. This is a year of
anniversaries. The movie was based on the literature
from science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke. Clarke
was a screenwriter on the project along with Kubrick.
Clarke was also a futurist. The film was so ahead of its
time that it predicted much of the technology that we
use today in the year of 2018.
2001: A Space Odyssey back in 1968 showed and
predicted Skype, international communication from
space to Earth, i Pads, transport systems in space, an
Stanley Kubrick’s genius was ahead of its time
involving filmmaking.
international space station, Siri or Alexa, the
beginnings of artificial intelligence, and other advanced
devices. It also had items that haven’t existed yet in our
world today. Many critics have called it one of the
greatest films in history with its topics of human
development, space, evolution, technology, and the
other mysteries of the Universe.
The movie was heavily filmed and edited from England
where Kubrick lived at during that time. From the large
black monolithic to discussions about possible
extraterrestrial life, the film certainly motivates the
curiosities of human beings. 2001 pioneered the use of
front projection with retroreflective matting. Elements
of a smartphone and laptops are found in the 1968
movie too. Rotating film sets existed to make the film.
The music incorporates classic music. One of the
greatest characters in the movie was Hal, who was the
artificial intelligence computer that developed a
contentious relationship with Dr. David Bowman.
Therefore, the 2001: A Space Odyssey (as Stanley
Kubrick directed the movie being one of the greatest
film directors in history) is the most influential science
fiction movie in human history. On April 3, 1968,
about 1,000 men return their draft cards to the
government offices from across America. The anti-war
movement accelerated. Also, on April 3, 1968, Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. gave his final speech in
Memphis, Tennessee in Mason Temple. Dr. King was
resting in his hotel and was about to not go, but a call
from his friend Ralph Abernathy motivated him to go
to speak his mind. Dr. King was inspiring the receptive
crowd with his words on history, boycotts, racial

justice, and labor rights. He motivated the people and
himself to get going. He gave prophetic words about
the future, but he never wavered in his cause of
nonviolent resistance against injustice.
His final, historic, and heroic words from the "I Have
Been to the Mountaintop" speech are the following:
"...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. 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..."
After the Memphis speech, Dr. King was jubilant. He
celebrated with his allies. He met A.D. King (his
This image showed one of the
final moments of Dr. Martin
Luther King’s life. Hosea
Williams, Jesse Jackson, Dr.
King, and Ralph Abernathy
were all in this picture. Dr.
King lived from 1929 to 1968
and he advocated for social
justice plus equality.
brother), Georgia Davis (or the late Kentucky state
senator), and other people. Dr. King wanted to go
forward and make another march despite opposition.
The next day, he was preparing to eat dinner with
colleagues. On April 4, 1968 (at about 6 pm.), one of
the most tragic events in American history would
happen. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was in Memphis
and he fought for the right to march without an
injunction from the judge. He gathered allies on that
day to discuss a future nonviolence march after his
previous night’s I Have Been to the Mountaintop
speech (which he prophetically said that he may not get
to the Promised Land, but black people will get there
in the future). He came outside of the balcony of the
Lorraine Motel and talked with Jesse Jackson and other
people like Andrew Young. Later, he is shot from a
rifle to his jaw. He is killed soon afterwards. This
changed America and the world forever. 1968 would
never be the same. The Memphis sanitation strike
would end by April 16, 1968. The strikers had a pay
raise and union recognition (which were the two major
goals of the movement). T. O. Jones was a leader of
that movement who wanted change. T.O. Jones
allowed the vote for the union recognition to exist.
 OCCURENCES OF THE VIETNAM WAR ERA AFTER 1968

The Kent State Massacre in Ohio and the Jackson State

Richard Nixon by 1970 (via his
massacre in Mississippi involved the loss of innocent
announcement on April 30, 1970) allowed
human life. Both events involved anti-war protesters. In
American forces to invade Cambodia in
Kent State University, some protesters threw bottles
order to end the slow pace of the peace
and rocks at the National Guard. The National Guard
negotiations and break the stalemate of the
overreacted and used massive gunfire that killed 4
war. American forces attacked the
young adults (including Jeffrey Miller). 28 Ohio
Communist Khmer Rouge who supported
National Guardsmen fired about 67 rounds in a period
North Vietnam forces. The problem was this
of 13 seconds. 9 people were wounded and one had
act was that it was a further expansion of the
suffered permanent paralysis. The Jackson State
war and it exposed the myth that Nixon was
massacred was when the police killed 2 black people
some great peacemaker. Protests existed
whose names are Phillip Gibbs and James Earl Green on
nationwide over this policy from universities
the date of May 14, 1970. 12 students were injured at
to the streets.
Jackson, Mississippi. Even the President’s Commission
on Campus Unrest had to admit that the police used
excessive force.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial remembered

After the My Lai massacre, the Pentagon Papers was
published in the New York Times by 1971. Daniel Ellsberg (a
co-author of the Pentagon Papers) leaked it to the Times.
The Pentagon Papers was a study that proved that the
American government leaders, involved in the Vietnam War,
used deception to promote its policies in Vietnam even lied
to Congress. Nixon wanted the full publication to be
blocked, but the New York Times v. United States Supreme
Court decision ruled against the Nixon administration.
the Americans soldiers who lost their lives during
the Vietnam War. The architect Maya Lin was
involved in its design. The memorial is about 2
acres and it is found in Washington, D.C. It was
finished in the year of 1982. More than 58,000
Americans and about 300,000 Americans were
wounded from the war. Millions of Vietnamese
people also died. The memorial makes us realize
that the sacredness of human life should be
honored.
 REMEMBERING W.E.B DU BOIS: 150 YEARS
AFTER HIS BIRTH
W.E.B. Du Bois had his 150th year
Birthday this year. He was a legend
and a pioneer of black intellectual
thought. He was born in
Massachusetts and his community
funded his education. He went into
Fisk University (which was an
HBCU as HBCUs have great value in
the cultural growth of the black
community). Also, he studied in
other universities and received his
PhD. from Harvard. Dr. DuBois
traveled the country as an expert
journalist and a magnificent
sociologist. He studied the lives of
African Americans in Philadelphia
and wrote about it. He defined the
double consciousness aspect of
African Americans in his
groundbreaking book entitled, "The
Souls of Black Folk." Double
consciousness means that we, who
are black Americans, have a paradox
of being of African and American
heritages at the same time. In other
words, we hate the oppression & the
injustices in America, but we love the
good people in America at the same
time. We have to reconcile our
double consciousness so to speak in
existing with happiness while at the
same time America must respect our
humanity and our Blackness too. We
will fight for our freedom. DuBois
Rest in Power Brother W.E.B. Du Bois
was a political activist who worked
with Ida B. Wells, Paul Robeson,
Lorraine Hansberry, and so many
other black heroes in combating
lynching, racism, discrimination, etc.
For a time, he was part of the
NAACP and was editor of its Crisis
Magazine. He sympathized with
socialism since capitalism especially
back then (& even today) was so
oligarchical and so monopolistic that
he wanted a fair distribution of the
economic wealth. The U.S.
government oppressed him by
stripping him of his passport for a
time, monitoring him, and
slandering him with McCarthyite
like tactics. W.E.B. Du Bois never
gave in. He persisted to promote
Pan-Africanism, which involved the
political, economic, and social unity
of all people of black African descent
worldwide. He was involved in many
Pan-African Conferences. He
advocated justice and he spoke out
on many issues. I heard of him speak
before on YouTube and he had a
great voice that articulated the
premise that social activism was key
in developing an egalitarian world.
He wanted black people to be
involved in economics, politics, and
social activism in gaining equality
and justice. He disagreed with
Booker T. Washington on some
issues, but both men were right that
education is extremely important in
advancing true freedom. Later, he
became more independent and
condemned imperialism, and
colonialism explicitly. He opposed
This picture showed Malcolm X
walking with DuBois’ wife, whose
name was Shirley Graham Du
Bois. Shirley was an activist just
like both Malcolm X and W.E.B.
Du Bois. She passed away in
1977.
the droppings of the bombs in
Hiroshima and Nagasaki as he
rightfully deduced that these
horrendous acts constitute explicit
crimes against humanity. He moved
into Ghana by the 1960's and he
became a Communist before he died.
W.E.B. DuBois loved his family and
he was working on an African
encyclopedia just before his passing.
He loved truth and wisdom. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was inspired
by him as he gave a speech praising
his contributions to the human
freedom movement (on February
1968 when Dr. King was speaking
passionately against the Vietnam
War). DuBois lived to almost 100
years (he passed away in 1963 and he
was born in 1868) and we are inspired
by his wisdom, his eloquence, and his
profound dignity as a black man who
desired liberation.
 Appendix A: The Music of that Era
By early 1968, music was very
diverse. Johnny Cash performed his
famous concert at Folsom State
Prison in California on January 13,
1968. The Who and the Small Faces
began with a tour of Australia and
New Zealand on January 20. Simon
& Garfunkel released The
Graduate album on January 21,
1968. Aretha Franklin released her
Lady Soul album on January 22,
1968. This album had classic songs
like You Make Me Feel Like a
Natural Woman, Chain of Fools,
People Get Ready, Groovin, and
A’int No Way. Gospel/R&B
singer Cissy Houston (mother of
Whitney Houston) and her group
the Sweet Inspirations are credited
as background vocals on several
tracks, along with Aretha's sisters
Carolyn and Erma Franklin. The
Bee Gees on February 4, 1968 made
their American television debut on
The Smothers Brothers Comedy
Hour. On February 12, 1968, Jimi
Hendrix is given an honorary high
school diploma from Garfield High
School in Seattle, Washington.
Hendrix is also given the key to the
city. On February 16, 1968,
Franklin was honored with a day in
her honor and was greeted by
longtime friend Martin Luther
King, Jr. who gave her the SCLC
Drum Beat Award for Musicians
The Supremes has always displayed
timeless music. They represented the
glorious music of the 1960’s.
just two months before his death.
On February 16, the Beatles, Mike
Love, Mia Farrow, Donovan and
others traveled to India to visit
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at
Rishikesh. This was part of many
musicians seeking alternative
religious faiths for their quest in
finding enlightenment. Many of
them rejected the Judeo-Christian
views in favor of Hinduism or
Transcendental Meditation. On
February 21, 1968, McGraw-Hill,
Inc., outbids eight other publishers
and pays $150,000 for the U.S.
rights to Hunter Davies' authorized
biography of the Beatles. The great
singer Florence Ballard of the
Supreme was released from her
contract with Motown on February
22, 1968. The doo-wop singer
Frankie Lymon was found dead at
his grandmother’s house in
Harlem, New York City on
February 27. He had a heroin
overdose. Johnny Cash and June
Carter are married in Franklin,
Kentucky, with Merle Kilgore as
his best man on March 1, 1968. The
58th and final new episode of The
Monkees airs on NBC by March 25,
1968. On March 30, 1968, The
Yardbirds record their live album
Live Yardbirds at the Anderson
Theater. From this early period of
the year of 1968, people were
showing music like Nancy Sinatra,
Steppenwolf, John Coltrane, The
Velvet Underground, Elvis Presley,
The Byrds, and other human
beings.
By Timothy

Now, it is time to give a poignant, powerful

tribute to the legendary artist Aretha Franklin.
She was a Queen.

We all send prayers and condolences to

her family and friends.
 Remembering and Honoring
the Legacy of the Queen of
Soul Sister Aretha Franklin

March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018

Majesty and excellence

were part of her life. She
was the daughter of the “Aretha helped define the American
Detroit Baptist preacher experience. In her voice, we could feel
Rev. C. L. Franklin. Aretha
Franklin was also her own our history, all of it and in every
woman who could play the shade—our power and our pain, our
piano, sing, and spoke up
heroically in favor of darkness and our light, our quest for
human justice. Jazz, soul, redemption and our hard-won respect.
gospel, opera, classical,
R&B, and other genres of May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal
music were loved and peace.”
performed by her. She
motivated our
-President Barack Obama
consciousness and spoke
enumerable truths that
persist forevermore. She
was an elegant, strong, and
beautiful black woman
who used her voice and her
compassion to build up
humanity. The following
pages show information
about her life and legacy.
 “Be your own artist, and always be confident in what you’re
doing. If you’re not going to be confident, you might as well not
be doing it.”

“We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or

white. It’s our basic human right.”
-Aretha Franklin

Certainly, it's sad news to report

that Aretha Franklin is now passed
away at the age of 76. She broke
down barriers and was involved in
the Civil Rights Movement. She
was one of the greatest performers
in history and many cite her as the
greatest singer in human history.
People of every background know
of her music, of her courage, and
of her strength. She sang an
anthem for women empowerment
called Respect. That galvanized so
many social movements and it
showed the truth that women are
owed respect unconditionally.
Memphis, Tennessee was the place
of her birth and she was raised
heavily in Detroit, Michigan
which is the home of Motown.
 Aretha Franklin sang the song, ”My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” at the historic 2009
inauguration of President Barack Obama, who was the first African American
President in U.S. history. First Lady Michelle Obama was the first African
American First Lady of U.S. history too.

Memphis and Detroit are
two great American cities
whose legacies involving
music, culture, and social
activism are transcendent.
She made an album at the
age of 14, which outlined
her excellent talent. Her
father helped her to sign her
first recording deal with
J.V.B. Records, where her
first album, Songs of Faith,
was issued in 1956.
Franklin sometimes traveled
with The Soul Stirrers
during this time. During her
20's, she made classic
musical records. Aretha
Franklin represented black
womanhood to the fullest.
We know of her as a
gracious, inspiring black
woman who was on a
mission to promote love,
respect, and human
togetherness.
Loyalty, kindness, and
inspirational love all
personify her life. Her star
shined greatly indeed. She
was the Queen of Soul. She
was in movies and in other
music videos too. Her
father was a pastor and a
great friend of the late Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. too.
Dr. King knew Aretha
Franklin as a great friend as
well. In fact, Aretha
Franklin gave concerts
during the 1960's to fund
Dr. King's SCLC. Also,
Aretha Franklin's father role
in the march in Detroit
back in 1963 inspired Dr.
King to speak at the 1963
March at Washington
during August.
On February 16, 1968,
Aretha Franklin was
honored with a day in her
honor and was greeted by
longtime friend Martin
Luther King Jr. who gave
her the SCLC Drum Beat
Award for Musicians just
two months before his
death. Many of the greatest
songs that she sang were:
Respect, Natural Woman,
Chain of Fools, Think, My
Song, Day Dreaming, A
Rose is Still a Rose, Baby I
Love You, I Say a Little
Prayer, etc. She performed
magnificently in the Blues
Brothers film. Many people
honor her wit, her gifts, and
her commitment to civil
rights. Aretha Franklin
wanted to maintain her
privacy and she was honest
about music and life in
general.
Aretha Franklin always had
spirituality as a cornerstone
in her walk. Gospel music is
included in her discography
too not just soul or R&B
albums (among a music
career spanning over five
decades). She just loved
music and her Blackness
always flourished. There are
so many excellent Aretha's
classics that they reach up
all in your soul. Her family
and friends visited her
before her passing at a
Detroit hospice. Aretha
Franklin was a Queen and
she is with the ancestors
now in spirit.
 Certainly, her voice, her
passion for justice, her zeal
for living, her compassion
for her neighbors, and her
love of truth are gifts from
God. She gave total
inspiration to especially
black women and black
girls to pursue their dreams
and aspirations. She had a
purpose and wanted
humanity in general to
express their lights
brightly.
Rest in Power Sister Aretha
Franklin
Aretha Franklin used her
artistry in a manifold of
positive ways. She was
indeed the greatest vocalist
of human history. As a
trailblazer, she will be
greatly missed. We owe a
lot to her being a woman
of vision. We are all fans
of Aretha Franklin. No
one was like her before
and no one will be like her
afterwards. Her legacy is
truly eternal.
Soon, Part 2 of 1968 will show information of some of the
greatest tragedies in world history along with the youth using
diverse social movement in desiring educational justice and
social justice in general.