Autobiography of Ralph David Abernathy

In the garden we grew corn, beets, tomatoes, black-eyed peas, beans, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, okra, collard greens, turnips, mustard greens; and in the orchard we increase peaches, plums, pears, figs, and apples. . . . (W)hatever we lacked in the way of food supplies . . . we bartered for at the general investment trust . . . (pp. 6-7).

Abernathy credits his father's "day-by-day example" of sacrificing "his own comforts and pleasures to the gr polish offer unspoiled of others" in order to provide a secure sprightliness for his family so that, in spite of racism and "Jim Crow" laws, "we walked in safety and were treated courteously by uninfecteds who knew my father and recognised in his fierce gaze a strength and license that they either admired or turned away from in fear and shame" (pp. 9-10). Of the many words of advise inclined him by his father, perhaps the some memorable were: "David, if you ever stick out a good fight, get in it--and win it" (p. 10). They were to be recalled posterior in Montgomery.

Abernathy recounts that although his father counselled the children "never to play with white children. 'If you do . . . every joke go away be at your expense. If your wrestle or box with a white child, you will always have to let him win, otherwise he may become aggravated, and that could lead to trouble" (pp. 28-29). Little did he roll in the hay at the time just how prophetic the words were.

We were too perfectly content to drink out of our own urine fo

The remaining chapters chronicle the black lotion of Martin Luther mightiness, Jr., in 1968, and the decline of the SCLC. More than anything else, the reader comes away with the perceive that Abernathy felt pro gear uply alone after King's death:

At age 22, Abernathy declared his call to Christian ministry to the congregation of Hopewell Baptist Church, on Mother's Day, 1948. Later that same year he was elected hot seat of the junior class at Alabama press out, and led other protest--this time over barely tolerable living conditions in former barracks donated for dormitories. There, the few showers that actually worked delivered only cold water, most of the toilets failed to flush, and there was no heat in the winter. Another travel to to Dr.

Trenholm's office was pivotal in getting improvements made to the barracks (pp. 84-85). And, again, Abernathy believes "that my later dealings with mayors, governors, and presidents were significantly facilitated by these 2 meetings in Dr. Trenholm's office. As a matter of fact, no man ever intimidate me the same way that Dr. Trenholm did" (p. 85).

Abernathy's natural inclination to lead found him elected president of the student council at Alabama State University (an all-black college) in his sophomore year (1947). It would also lead to the first gear of many subsequent nonviolent demonstrations--a boycott of cafeteria food. After two days of "spreading the word," the entire student body refused to eat the food being served in the dining hall.

He goes on to reveal this humanity, warmth, capacity to have fun, and also his one shortcoming--"a personal charm that ingratiated him with members of the opposite sex" (p. 471). Abernathy reveals that the FBI had been involved in "bugging" the hotel and motel rooms used by King and others connected with the polite rights movement, and that there was a covert campaign to discredit King by circulating rumors of extramarital affairs. Although he does not explicitly state that he
Order your essay at Orderessay and get a 100% original and high-quality custom paper within the required time frame.