Thoughts on 1968

[valarltd]

On April 4, Dr. King was assassinated.
On April 8, Kansas City Missouri exploded into riots.

When the race riots abated six days later, 5 people were dead.
20 were hospitalized, including two national guardsmen and a fireman. No police.
100 adults and 11 juveniles had been arrested.
(All stats from KC Star http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/files/Riots_page1.jpg)

My father was one of the over 600 national guardsmen called out.
He sent my mother and me to my grandparents'. Peculiar was a sundown town then, and no blacks meant no riots.
He spent the day hiding under a car because the Guard was (wisely) not issued bullets.

I've heard the above story since I was 15, without the statistics.
Until today, I had never made the connection between King and the riots of 68, that encompassed over 100 cities and lasted until April 14.


I grumble about people not knowing history. Sometimes my own ignorance bites my ass too.

Comments

[kc-anathema.livejournal.com]

The town's name is Peculiar?

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Yep.
Lived there for 16 years.
Graduated from Raymore Peculiar High School.

http://www.cityofpeculiar.com/

[brithistorian.livejournal.com]

I was completely unaware of this - thanks for posting this.