When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was brutally assassinated on April 4, 1968, his younger brother, Rev. Alfred Daniel “A.D.” King, was with him on that tragic day. That day is forever marked in history, as death the incredibly brave civil rights icon, MLK. The day that has gone largely unnoticed, is the death of MLK’s baby brother, A.D. King- also a civil rights leader- the following year in 1969. As we continue to honor the legacy of Dr. King, we also wanted to shine light on the legacy and mysterious death of the brother who was hidden in MLK’s shadow.

Rare 8 second video of A.D. King speaking at his brother’s funeral. And he sounds just like MLK. pic.twitter.com/UG0yt5PPWF

— Boss (@_ValTown_) April 5, 2018

Mysterious Details Of A.D. King’s Death

Just 15 months after Dr. King Jr. was assassinated, A.D. King died under suspicious circumstances. A.D. was extremely close to his brother, Martin. Following MLK’s assassination, A.D.’s widow, Naomi King, revealed to Seattle Times, that “He never recovered, because he felt it was his duty to protect his brother.”

On July 20, 1969, A.D.’s daughter, Alveda King, overheard him on the phone at their home, venting about MLK’s murder:

“They killed my brother. I’m gonna find out who did it,” he told someone on the phone, as Alveda stood nearby.

The following day, on July 21, 1969 -just 9 days before his 39th birthday- Rev. A.D. King, an avid swimmer, was found dead at the bottom of their family’s pool.

Family’s Suspicions

Following his death, King family members had suspicions about how he’d ‘accidentally died…
A.D. King’s daughter, Alveda King:

“Daddy was killed and put in the pool,” said Alveda, who was at work when the body was discovered. “When they pulled the body out, they began to pump his chest, but no water came out. One of the emergency people said he was dead when he hit the water.” Naomi flew back to Atlanta and, after identifying his body in the morgue, came to the same conclusion. -via ST

A.D.’s wife, Naomi King:

“Absolutely, he was murdered,” Naomi King said. “He was an excellent swimmer. There was no water in his lungs. He was in the fetal position. He had a bruised forehead. Rings around his neck. And he was in his underwear. He was murdered.” For his part, Daddy King said publicly that the civil-rights movement killed both of his sons, furthering the family narrative. -via ST

His Overlooked Legacy

A.D. King was a well known pastor in throughout Birmingham, AL, where he fought for civil rights alongside his brother, MLK, and pastored his own church. He was also known among the confines of their family’s popular Ebenezer Church in Atlanta, Ga. In addition to that, he’s endured many of the struggles several other civil rights leaders did during the 1950’s and 60’s, including having his home bombed while he and his family were still in it, becoming a political prisoner, etc.. Yet, A.D. King’s legacy is still overlooked.

Dear friend of MLK and civil rights activist/former Atlanta mayor, Andrew Young, was by A.D. King’s side, consoling him as they both watched Dr. King die on that Lorraine Hotel balcony in ‘1968. Young later explained, to Seattle Times, why A.D.’s legacy was tucked away in the shadows of American history:

“A.D. King, if it hadn’t been for Martin and Daddy King [MLK Sr.,their father], would have been a prominent preacher in this city, because he was very good,” said Andrew Young. … “But he was Martin’s baby brother. The younger brother becomes the caricature. Somebody that they pick on.”

A.D.’s wife raised a great question:

“How can you be forgotten if you never been known?” asked Naomi.

Rev. Willie Bolden, good friend of A.D. revealed this:

“His [A.D.] strategy was to support his brother. … He never tried to usurp any of the limelight. Many people didn’t even know Martin Luther King had a brother.”

Rev. A.D. King was more than just the ‘unknown King brother,’ he was a father to his and Naomi’s five children- Alveda, Alfred, Derek, Esther and Vernon; a devoted husband; loyal brother; a pastor; and unsung hero of the civil rights fight.

Read How Dr. King’s and A.D. King’s Mother Was Brutally Murdered Shortly After Their Deaths HERE.

The post Brother Of MLK Died Suspiciously Months After Dr. King, But Here’s Why Many Never Knew appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

In honor of Black History Month, we wanted to shed light on a man who is responsible for helping make all of our lives better today, but gets very little public recognition. Unbeknownst to most of the world, the reason we have mobile phones and wireless device is not because of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, nor any other executives at any well known communication brands that are making a killing off of the wireless devices. It is because of an African American, named Jesse Eugene Russell (72), and his innovations.

During his tenure as an engineer at AT&T-Bell Laboratories in 1988, Russell created the concept of wireless communication, by developing the world’s first digital cellular base station. That paved the way for never before seen digital services for cellular mobile users, which Russell currently holds the patent to.

Via Pressvue: Prior to Jesse Eugene Russell’s invention, a mobile device was only possible to be used in a vehicle or in a car, because the power required for that mobile to transmit a signal to a cell tower would have been impossible for a small handset device to handle. So, Mr. Russell’s invention made it possible for the proliferation of handset devices and for its affordability. So the technological dynamic between the handset device and the cell towers was re-engineered (a new concept was invented) by Mr. Russell and thus, the possibility for signal transmission between our current handset devices and the cell phone towers.

Jesse Russell: “The Father of 2G Communications” from iAM Solutions, LLC on Vimeo.

Russell described the day his AT&T-Bell Laboratories supervisor came to him with the task that none of the other employees wanted and asked him to damn near come up with a miracle. That miracle was to figure out how to do something with the cellular phone concept that AT&T, nor any of the other major telecommunications could figure out. Russell accepted the challenge and got to work:

Jesse Russell: I’ll never forget the first day on the job, I called a meeting with all of the managers…they were all white, I was the only black hiring. And I was saying, ‘Well, what’s the problem?’ Because they [AT&T] were losing so much money, it was pathetic… They said, “The problem is that we can only maje money when people are in their cars, the phone rings then they answer…but most of the time, people are in their cars.”

Then Russell dropped a bombshell of an invention on them in response:

“I said.’Well that that seems like an easy problem to solve, right?’ Why don’t we just take the phones out of the car and put them on put them on the people.”

The wireless mobile device concept was unheard of at that time and it was brilliant. But as we could imagine, turning that concept into a reality was far more complex than it sounded. Thanks to Russell’s innovative creation and dedication, the world has moved forward as a result.

Today, Jesse Eugene Russell is Chairman and CEO of his company, incNETWORKS, Inc., which is a broadband wireless communications company based in New Jersey. IncNETWORKS, Inc.focuses on 4G broadband wireless communications technologies, networks and services. To date, Russell owns over 100 granted and/or pending patents in pioneering technologies within the digital world and continues to innovate and develop ways to further expand 4G broadband wireless networks. “Base Station for Mobile Radio Telecommunications Systems,” (1992), the “Mobile Data Telephone,” (1993), and the “Wireless Communication Base Station” (1998), are just a few of the patents Russell owns.

Salute to Mr. Russell, a Tennessee native- another little known Black History Fact.

Source1, Source2, Source3Source4, Source5

The post Forget What You Heard…This Man Is The Real Reason Why We All Have Mobile Phones appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

In honor of Black History Month, we wanted to shed light on a man who is responsible for helping make all of our lives better today, but gets very little public recognition. Unbeknownst to most of the world, the reason we have mobile phones and wireless device is not because of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, nor any other executives at any well known communication brands that are making a killing off of the wireless devices. It is because of an African American, named Jesse Eugene Russell (72), and his innovations.

During his tenure as an engineer at AT&T-Bell Laboratories in 1988, Russell created the concept of wireless communication, by developing the world’s first digital cellular base station. That paved the way for never before seen digital services for cellular mobile users, which Russell currently holds the patent to.

Via Pressvue: Prior to Jesse Eugene Russell’s invention, a mobile device was only possible to be used in a vehicle or in a car, because the power required for that mobile to transmit a signal to a cell tower would have been impossible for a small handset device to handle. So, Mr. Russell’s invention made it possible for the proliferation of handset devices and for its affordability. So the technological dynamic between the handset device and the cell towers was re-engineered (a new concept was invented) by Mr. Russell and thus, the possibility for signal transmission between our current handset devices and the cell phone towers.

Jesse Russell: “The Father of 2G Communications” from iAM Solutions, LLC on Vimeo.

Russell described the day his AT&T-Bell Laboratories supervisor came to him with the task that none of the other employees wanted and asked him to damn near come up with a miracle. That miracle was to figure out how to do something with the cellular phone concept that AT&T, nor any of the other major telecommunications could figure out. Russell accepted the challenge and got to work:

Jesse Russell: I’ll never forget the first day on the job, I called a meeting with all of the managers…they were all white, I was the only black hiring. And I was saying, ‘Well, what’s the problem?’ Because they [AT&T] were losing so much money, it was pathetic… They said, “The problem is that we can only maje money when people are in their cars, the phone rings then they answer…but most of the time, people are in their cars.”

Then Russell dropped a bombshell of an invention on them in response:

“I said.’Well that that seems like an easy problem to solve, right?’ Why don’t we just take the phones out of the car and put them on put them on the people.”

The wireless mobile device concept was unheard of at that time and it was brilliant. But as we could imagine, turning that concept into a reality was far more complex than it sounded. Thanks to Russell’s innovative creation and dedication, the world has moved forward as a result.

Today, Jesse Eugene Russell is Chairman and CEO of his company, incNETWORKS, Inc., which is a broadband wireless communications company based in New Jersey. IncNETWORKS, Inc.focuses on 4G broadband wireless communications technologies, networks and services. To date, Russell owns over 100 granted and/or pending patents in pioneering technologies within the digital world and continues to innovate and develop ways to further expand 4G broadband wireless networks. “Base Station for Mobile Radio Telecommunications Systems,” (1992), the “Mobile Data Telephone,” (1993), and the “Wireless Communication Base Station” (1998), are just a few of the patents Russell owns.

Salute to Mr. Russell, a Tennessee native- another little known Black History Fact.

Source1, Source2, Source3Source4, Source5

The post Forget What You Heard…This Man Is The Real Reason Why We All Have Mobile Phones appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Many of us may or may not have heard about the time when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was nearly killed years before he was actually assassinated. The day was September 20, 1958 and the would be murderer, then 42 year Izola Curry, was to blame.

The Murder Attempt

On that fateful day in Sept. 1958, Dr. King Jr. was at Blumstein’s Department Store in Harlem, where he was signing autographs for his autobiographical book, “Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story” (a great read by the way). Everything was going smoothly, until Izola Curry walked up to the autograph table. She was wearing cat glasses, a nice dress suit, and holding a large black handbag. Curry calmly walked up to Dr. King and asked “Is this Martin Luther King?”

A then 29 year old King kindly smiled as he continued signing books and stated “Yes.” That’s when Izola pulled a 7-inch steel letter opener out of her purse and stabbed Dr. King, Jr. in his chest, to the surprise of everyone in attendance. Curry didn’t try to run away from the scene and she was soon apprehended by authorities, who discovered that she’d also stashed a Galesi-Brescia .25 caliber pistol in her bra. She stated that she had no plans on using the gun on Dr. King, but rather on anyone who would try to attack her after stabbing him.

MLK Jr. was immediately helped by bystanders on the scene and tended to, while the letter opener remained lodged in his chest. Thankfully some of the onlookers knew not to try to remove the knife from his chest, because he could have died on the spot had they done so.

“No Ill Will”

King was soon rushed to a nearby NY hospital for emergency surgery and 10 days later he spoke from the hospital, to let the world know he had “no ill will” toward Curry for stabbing him. He also was gracious enough to wish Curry the best and hoped that she got the help she desperately needed. Talk about a class act, right?

Why Izola Curry Stabbed King

According to police records, Izola believed Dr. King and the NAACP had been trying to kill her and blocking her from finding employment:

Via TheSmokingGun- NYPD Officer Anthony Buancore, who arrested Curry, recalled that she said of King, “He took away my freedom. He and the NAACP were after me. This has been going on for the last five years. It’s a frameup and I lost job after job because of them.”

Dr. King’s Recollection Of The Stabbing

During Dr. King’s infamous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech at Mason Temple, which took place just one day before he was assassinated by James Earl Ray on April 4, 1968, he recalled the day Izola Curry stabbed him:

Via TSR: Two months after the stabbing, Curry was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic by psychiatrists, who revealed to the courts that she had an IQ of 70- “low average intelligence”- and was suffering from a very poor “state of insanity.” Although Curry was indicted for attempted murder, a Manhattan judge determined that she should be committed to the Matteawan State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.

“You know, several years ago, I was in New York City autographing the first book that I had written. And while sitting there autographing books, a demented black woman came up,” King told the Mason Temple audience. “Before I knew it, I had been stabbed by this demented woman. I was rushed to Harlem Hospital. It was a dark Saturday afternoon. That blade had gone through, and the X-rays revealed that the tip of the blade was on the edge of my aorta, the main artery. And once that’s punctured, you drowned in your own blood, that’s the end of you.” King added, “It came out in The New York Times the next morning that if I had merely sneezed, I would have died.”

In conclusion of his recollection of the stabbing and reflection of how his journey for equality would have been cut way too short, had he sneezed, Dr. King closed out with,“I’m so happy that I didn’t sneeze.”

What Happened To Izola Curry’s Life After Stabbing Dr. King

When Curry was first admitted to psych hospitals following her attack on MLK, hospital officials oftentimes noted that she showed zero remorse for trying to kill Dr. King. She was “generally suspicious, seclusive and resentful of correction. She is nasty and abusive at times,” officials stated in one clinical summary. She also talked to herself in her room and was noted as saying “The S.O.B. Rev. King ought to be here.”

As years went on, she became less problematic and more pleasant according to hospital employees. She also began to have zero recollection of the crime she’d committed in her latter years of life:

Vis TSG: Curry remained in the “Family Care” program, apparently residing in at least one other Queens home since Dr. Finger provided an update on her condition. Curry told a TSG reporter she was living in a “Family Care” residence in Queens when she fell and injured her left leg (which prompted her admission to the long-term nursing home).

At the end of a recent visit, a Hillside Manor attendant approached Curry to let her know that lunch would soon be served. When a reporter asked how she liked the food at the home, Curry remarked that she does not eat much, since she watches her weight. When told that was not often a concern for someone pushing 100, Curry offered her visitor a broad smile.

Soon after her interview with TSG, Izola Curry died at the age of 98, much like she’d lived out the last five decades of her life- in a state of obscurity. Ms. Curry passed away with no family, no children, and no loved ones by her side. She took her last breathe on March 7, 2015 at Hillside Manor Nursing Home in Manhattan, NY, not too far from where she’d committed her assassination attempt against Dr. Martin Luther King.

Source1, Source2, Source3, Source4

The post The Woman Who Stabbed Dr. King Died In 2015, Here’s What Happened To Her Life Though appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

“Good Times” is now considered one of the most iconic sitcoms of the 1970s. So, it comes as no surprise that the show made millions of dollars. However, the show’s co-creator, Eric Monte (77), has revealed some horrific backstabbing truths about what went down with his earnings and his life afterwards.  See details below…

With his contributions to “Good Times,” “What’s Happening,” “The Jeffersons,” “Sanford and Son,” “The Cosby Show,” and the classic movie, “Cooley High,” Monte’s talent definitely speaks for itself. But, despite his obvious talent, unfortunately, he wasn’t compensated properly. According to him, the execs stuck him for his paper, but we never would have guessed things had gotten THIS bad for him…

EXTREME HARDSHIPS & SMALL SALARY

During a previous interview with “Soul Train,” Monte revealed he had to take legal action to be compensated for “Good Times.” In 1977, he filed a lawsuit due to contract discrepancies with the show. But, even after winning a settlement, he still didn’t receive all he deserved.

Monte won a million-dollar settlement (crumbs in comparison to the show’s profits), and get this- he was only awarded 1% of the royalties from the show- a show that is still in regular syndication 40+ years later, mind you. Ain’t that a blip?!!

Eric Monte on lawsuit settlement: “The settlement was for $1,000,000 and one percent of ‘Good Times.’ I also get a portion of the royalties of ‘Good Times’ on DVD. I asked about ‘Sanford and Son,’ ‘The Jeffersons,’ and ‘What’s Happening.’ They said, ‘nothing.'”

YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHERE MONTE ENDED UP AFTER THIS

After winning the settlement, Monte decided to invest his money in other projects. He used the funds to promote his play “If They Ever Come Back.” However, things didn’t go according to plan because the public’s response was nothing like he expected. Unfortunately, the stage play flopped.

In addition to the failed project, it was widely reported by various media outlets, that Monte ended up suffering bouts with crack cocaine abuse back in the day and had no choice but to file bankruptcy due to the lack of earnings from his show creations. And here’s where it gets even worse: In 2005, Eric Monte- the man who is responsible for creating TV shows/movie that gave us some of our most treasured old school memories EVER- found himself living in a Salvation Army shelter, paying $300.00 a month for shelter, food, and counseling. That’s just sad and wrong on SO many levels.

THE UNLIKELY PERSON WHO HELPED HIM

After years of struggling due to all of the disheartening events that occurred during his career, Monte received a major opportunity from an unlikely person. During an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Illinois state Rep. Ken Dunkin explained how he coordinated a small fundraiser to help Monte. After growing up watching so many memorable shows Monte contributed to, he explained how Monte impacted his life. He wanted to return the favor.

“We want him here in Chicago,” said Dunkin. “This man should not be going out like this. I grew up on ‘Good Times.’ That’s me. I grew up in the ’70s looking at that show. Our family gathering, bonding moments were around that show. That was our building.”

Dunkin also explained why he believes so many people should be able to relate to Monte:

“He’ll be living in an affordable home with social services geared to help folks who are rebounding,” Dunkin said. “He’ll get a key to a lovely studio with a nice kitchen in an area where most people in Chicago can’t afford to live,” he said.”His story is profound in a number of ways. We are all one or two months away from being an Eric Monte.”

At least there was a beautiful ending to an unfortunately ugly story of deception, outright thievery, and injustice. Wishing Eric Monte continued success and positive energy as he continues to rebuild his life and career.

The post “Good Times” Earned Millions, But It’s Creator Exposed How He Got Cheated & Had A Tough Life appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

When the late, great actress, Hattie McDaniel, became the first African American to win an Oscar Award in 1940, that accolade was not a smooth journey to her win as Best Supporting Actress. The actual awards ceremony started off on a bad note from the jump, when Ms. McDaniel arrived at the Coconut Grove Restaurant of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, where the Oscars ceremony took place on February 29, 1940, Ms. McDaniel and her escort were told they couldn’t sit at the table with her fellow Gone With The Wind co-stars (who disapproved of the fact that Hattie had to sit separately from them). She was instead forced to sit at a segregated table for two.

McDaniel handled the situation with class and poise as the award show proceeded. When her name was eventually called as the winner for Best Supporting Actress, she gave this touching speech that brought many to tears:

“Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, fellow members of the motion picture industry and honored guests: This is one of the happiest moments of my life, and I want to thank each one of you who had a part in selecting me for one of their awards, for your kindness. It has made me feel very, very humble; and I shall always hold it as a beacon for anything that I may be able to do in the future. I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry. My heart is too full to tell you just how I feel, and may I say thank you and God bless you.”

Watch Hattie McDaniel’s 1940 acceptance speech for the Oscar’s Best Supporting Actress:

The backlash came because McDaniel’s role as the house slave who disciplined her owner’s daughter, “Scarlett O’Hara” (Vivien Leigh), scoffed at “Rhett Butler” (Clark Gable), but dare not talk back to the wife, “Mrs. O’Hara,” all of whom were Caucasian, while McDaniel played the role of “Mammy.”

Because African Americans felt that McDaniel’s “Mammy” role was a success, but that it also further celebrated the systemic slave system within America during, just as they were trying to fight for equal rights, Hattie’s attempt to take her show on the road as the role of “Mammy” failed miserably with the Black audience.

Overall, we still salute Hattie McDaniel for kicking down a door that seemed to be cemented shut back then, when segregation was still in full effect and Jim Crow laws were still enforced. If it weren’t for her enduring all that she endured and still representing strength through it all, there would be no Taraji’s, no Halle’s, no Whoopi’s, and so many more. So for that we thank Ms. McDaniel, whom if she were still here, would probably be deeply disappointed to learn that ever since she was the first African American to win an Oscar, there have only been just a little over a handful more Black actors to do the same within the 76 years after she delivered her powerful acceptance speech in 1940.

-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, old school news with a new point of view

The post So Foul: What Really Happened At Oscars When 1st African American, Hattie McDaniel, Won appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

After 63 years, 89-year-old Autherine Lucy Foster — the first Black student to attend the University of Alabama — was presented with an honorary doctorate degree, just days ago.

According to CNN, her “latest trip to the University of Alabama went a lot better than her first.”

The first time she applied to University of Alabama, in 1952, Autherine had already earned an English degree from Miles College. The university’s official website states that Foster’s application was accepted, but they changed their minds after discovering she wasn’t Caucasian.

“She eventually got in the school in 1956, after a federal court got involved,” the source notes.

The school actually had to remove Autherine from the roster and campus after only three days of attending. Reportedly, the civil rights pioneer had received multiple death threats, and there were various riots on campus because of her presence.

Nevertheless, the source reports that Autherine Foster made history after enrolling as the university’s first Black student. The school recognized her during spring graduation last week. That’s where administration officials presented Foster with the honorary doctorate amid a standing ovation and cheers.

Now, Tears Roll Down Autherine’s Face: ‘I’m Elated,’ She Says [Video]>>>

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“Man! Look at God, look at God, look at God!” Dupri said in a video. “Um, yo. I was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. I don’t know what else to say, but aaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

J.D. captioned the post saying that he “can’t f*cking believe it” and that this is the payoff for all of the “long nights and early mornings” spent working in music. J.D. has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the industry to write and produce chart-topping, No. 1 hits.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Be3It3MlTYL/

Dupri co-wrote “We Belong Together” and “Always Be My Baby” with Mariah Carey and “Burn” with Usher. He launched the careers of rappers Bow Wow and DaBrat as well as R&B groups Xscape and Jagged Edge among others. He continues to source and develop new talent using his Lifetime show The Rap Game. The induction is undoubtedly well-deserved.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeY-EZ7lP35/

Thank you. We are honored to be inducted into the 2018 roster of Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees!

https://t.co/XfrfLYdRLa pic.twitter.com/pq4pYTH8pH

— Kool & the Gang (@KoolntheGngLIVE) February 6, 2018

The 2018 class of inductees will be rounded out by Kool & the Gang, John Mellencamp, Alan Jackson, Allee Willis, Bill Anderson, and Steve Dorff. Songwriters Hall co-chairs Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff along with president and CEO Linda Moran issued a joint statement highlighting the importance of diversity in its ongoing recognition of songwriting talent.

Breaking News: here are the 2018 SHOF Inductees!https://t.co/0c0BBjaCpj#SHOF2018 pic.twitter.com/yZV1GigwYA

— SongHall (@SongwritersHOF) February 6, 2018

“The 2018 roster of Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees is a prodigious representation of creators of cross-genre hits, certain to resonate with everyone,” the joint statement reads. “Each year, the slate of songwriters we induct is more diverse and illustrative of the history and contributions that we strive to acknowledge and honor.”

The post Jermaine Dupri Overwhelmed After Becoming Only The 2nd Rapper Inducted Into Songwriters Hall Of Fame appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

ILOSM fam’ here’s an interesting Black history fact: We all know that Mahalia Jackson sang the spirituals at King’s March On Washington in 1963, but we may not have known that if it wasn’t for the late gospel icon, we would not have Dr. Martin Luther King’s iconic “I Have A Dream” speech. Let us explain…

Mahalia and Dr. King were very good friends and King viewed her as one of his spiritual confidantes. He would also often phone her up when he was stressed or down and like a routine, Mahalia would instantly start to sing gospel hymns to her friend who had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Here’s the thing though, they were so tight, that Mahalia knew how to push his buttons and tell him what others would be afraid to. That familiarity of their friendship came in handy during King’s delivery of his infamous “I Have A Dream” speech, as 250,000+ people stood in the crowd cheering him on and many more watched live on TV.

‘TELL ‘EM ABOUT THE DREAM MARTIN! TELL ‘EM!’

It turns out that the “I have a dream” portion of Dr. King’s speech, which is what it’s best known for, was ALL free-styled by King, as a result of Mahalia- who was sitting just a few feet away from Dr.King- pushing him to say it. According to King’s then advisor and speechwriter, Clarence Jones, he and King had gone over the prepared speech he’d drafted for King, several times prior to the March On Washington. But another one of King’s advisors, had advised King to take out the ‘dream’ lines because it would seem too “cliche.'” King agreed and the night before the march, he had X’d them out of his speech.

Here’s where Mahalia comes in though. She had already heard King’s ‘I have a dream’ sections of his speech prior to the March on Washington and she knew that was what would not only stir up Dr. King, but he would in turn, stir up the spirit of the people to NOT give up.

WHY MAHALIA YELLED AT DR. KING DURING SPEECH

As King was delivering his speech, Mahalia noticed that he was almost coming to a close, but hadn’t said the “dream” parts at all. So she did what any friend would do- she yelled at him, but she meant well though. She was sitting to the left of MLK when she looked at him (as seen in the above photo), then pulled from her New Orleans bred, baptist church roots and shouted “Tell ’em about the DREAM Martin! Tell ’em about THE DREAM!!!” That’s when Jones said Dr. King looked at Mahalia, pushed his written speech to side, grabbed the sides of the podium and morphed from calm, subdued political speaker, to his full fledge pastor mode as if he was preaching at a small Georgia church, instead of on live television!

Mahalia and the crowd cheered him on and the rest is history. She knew what to do to get her friend going and she knew Dr. King had the gift to empower the people. So what we witnessed for the iconic MLK “I Have A Dream speech” was the work of a true icon getting a small push from a fellow icon, without anyone really even noticing. AMAZING!

WATCH KING’S ADVISOR/SPEECH WRITER TELL WHAT HAPPENED AS HE WATCHED MAHALIA SHOUT AT DR. KING

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