The Journal of Lena Oliver (My Tribute to Dr. King)

Every year that it is Dr. King's birthday (January 15, 1929) and we celebrate MLK Day (2nd Monday in January), I love to reminisce on his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

The following fictional story was written on March 11, 2004 as an assignment for English 1101(Ms. Murphy's class-Darton College) It is based on Dr. King's march on Washington. I've noticed that since high school, I've always loved writing about Dr. King's life and work. I hope everyone enjoys this story:


The Journal of Lena Oliver by Lequvia Ousley



November 8, 2003



It is a rainy, gloomy Saturday afternoon and as usual I don't have anything to do. I remember as a child spending Saturdays with my grandmother, I affectionately called Mama Pearl. Mama Pearl always knew how to chase the boredom way. She would gather my sister, Lois, my brother Lionel, and I in the kitchen, bake cookies then let us eat all of them until we couldn't eat anymore. Sometimes when the day was good and sunny, Mama Pearl would take us shopping. We would go to the antique stores and the nickel-and-dime stores of her youth and she would share a story with us. I saw that each store held some kind of sentimental memory for her. Her stories whether true or imaginative, were my favorite memories as a child.

"Lena, Lois, Lionel, come here. I want to show you something!" Mama Pearl exclaimed. "What is it, Mama Pearl?" I said. I found my scrapbook," she said. All of us gathered in the living room and began to look through the scrapbook. It contained several photos of a young, vibrant, carefree, Mama Pearl. "Mama Pearl, would you tell us another story?" my brother asked. "Of course, Lionel I will tell you a story." Storytelling is my specialty," she said. "Did I ever tell all of you about my trip to Washington, DC?" she asked. "No, Mama Pearl you did not tell us that story. " Could you please tell us?" Lois asked. "Yes, I will tell you the story."

The year was 1963 and I was twenty years old, working part-time as a waitress at a local diner in Chicago. During this time, blacks didn't receive the same treatment as whites. Blacks were beaten, harassed and unemployment was at an ultimate high. I just felt blessed to have a job. There was a light through that dark tunnel though, the civil rights movement. It was the one catalyst that helped not just the blacks, but all people."


"I heard about the march from my friend, Charles. He said, "Pearl, participating in this event could be the one thing you will never stop telling your grandchildren about. Needless to say, he was right because here I am telling each of you about it." "What happened next?" I asked. "Well of course, I didn't refuse. Besides, I would have the best of both worlds, a reunion with an old friend and a chance to show my political side."

Weeks before the march, Charles and I reserved our seats on the "freedom" bus, as it was called, which would take us directly from Chicago to Washington,D.C. We also made protesting signs. My sign read, "Fight Discrimination for Integration!" We were so excited.

"When we finally arrived at the march, we departed the bus, grabbed our signs, and headed into the crowd. I could not believe there were so many people. It had to be at least 400,000 people. Whether black, white, old, or young, everyone was there. The scene was beautiful. Throughout the march, people chanted, "Pass the bill!" "Pass the bill!" One of the important reasons for organizing the march was to pass a series of bills, one being the Civil Rights Act. When some people talk about the march, they discuss the serious aspect of the event. The march was not just a serious event; it had its entertaining moments as well. I saw performances from Josh White, Mahalia Jackson, Bob Dylan, and the famous trio, Peter, Paul, and Mary. The performances were spectacular.

As the day went on, more people arrived. What impressed me the most was that there was no violence. With so many people, anything could have happened. The highlight of the day was Dr. King's famous, "I Have a Dream" speech. At this point, I'm thinking, "I can't believe I'm here, a part of such an inspirational and influential event. My favorite part of the speech was when Dr. King said,"....all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Catholics and Protestants, will all be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last; free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" Dr. King's speech was the true essence of the march. "

"Mama Pearl that was a great, story," said Lois. "I'm glad you liked it, "Mama Pearl said. "Let's go into the kitchen and make some cookies!"

As I sit here reminiscing about my grandmother and one of her many inspiring adventures, the feeling of boredom has gone away. Now that Mama Pearl is gone I can always feel her presence from all the memories we shared together. Like Dr. King and so many other pioneers of the past, my grandmother's legacy will live on and be told forever.