| Ralph Abernathy was the black man most | | | | and others organized the Poor People's Campaign |
| recognized as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s | | | | (PPC) March on Washington, D.C. They were |
| second-in-command. It's easy to see him being | | | | hoping to bring attention to the problems of |
| King's Vice President, had the good doctor ever | | | | poverty-stricken people, and constructed huts in |
| attained the White House. In his last speech on | | | | the nation's capital, which caused a showdown |
| April 3, 1968, MLK said, "Ralph Abernathy is the | | | | with the police. |
| best friend that I have in the world." Abernathy's | | | | But Abernathy, being noted for his calmness and |
| family has stated he loved them dearly, and that | | | | tendency to be "laid back," slept in a hotel during |
| he risked everything for the American Civil Rights | | | | this campaign. He was known to be fearless, but |
| Movement - hard as it was. | | | | didn't like having to deal with deprived conditions. |
| Abernathy had introduced him before King gave | | | | He was a gentle, loving Christian gentleman, but |
| his last life's speech. He was the first person out | | | | wasn't as happy to bend sometimes as his friend |
| on the motel's balcony when MLK was shot, and | | | | Dr. King. Abernathy's daughter, Donzaleigh |
| they went back to well before the Montgomery | | | | Abernathy, said her father really hated dealing |
| Bus Boycott. Abernathy was pastor of the First | | | | with racism and its usual accompanying low |
| Baptist Church in Montgomery around 1951, and | | | | circumstances. One time, when King's and |
| while living there, he formed a close and enduring | | | | Abernathy's families were living in poverty-stricken |
| partnership with Dr. King, who wasn't famous until | | | | housing for blacks in order to see what it was |
| the years of the bus boycott. At the time, King | | | | like, Abernathy's family left after staying there for |
| was pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, | | | | only a week, while the King family continued living |
| also in Montgomery. He "hung out" with many | | | | in "the Projects" for many months. |
| other reverends and pastors, both black and | | | | But on June 19, Abernathy gave a speech at the |
| white, during the course of his brief but firebrand | | | | Lincoln Memorial in front of tens of thousands of |
| and "righteous" political career. MLK's church | | | | King's white and black supporters. Regardless, the |
| background was the core of his entire political | | | | PPC at Resurrection City soon fell apart, becoming |
| thrust, as when he spoke he preached of "doing | | | | an embarrassment to the Civil Rights Movement |
| the right thing" at all times. | | | | as rapes and robberies among the protestors |
| Abernathy was MLK's right-hand man in the | | | | began to increase. The lack of discipline after Dr. |
| Southern Christian Leadership Conference, as its | | | | King's death was showing; a deep and mournful |
| Secretary-Treasurer. He assumed presidency of | | | | ennui had sunk in, completely taking it over. The |
| the SCLC upon King's death. About a week after | | | | Movement had lost its best leader - her heart and |
| the assassination, Abernathy lead yet another | | | | soul was gone - canceled with the death of her |
| march for the striking sanitation workers in | | | | brightest star and son. |
| Memphis, and in May of 1968, he, Jesse Jackson | | | | |