In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

introduction in the South the month of March is a beautiful time of year, as winter lets go its grip and Spring is slowly pushing her way in. it’s March now as i write this, back in my home in Selma after recovering from illness in the good care of my daughter Jawana at her home in Atlanta . Looking out into my backyard from where i like to sit when i’m home alone, i remember a spring day just like this one, almost fifty years gone. i was enjoying the sight of the new green leaves on the trees in our yard as they replaced the darker green of last year’s leaves. i was home alone then also, my husband was at his office, my little daughter was off visiting her grandmother, and i was beginning to settle into the quiet so different from the energy and noise that had ruled in our house for months. interrupting the quiet, i heard a car door shut behind the house, soon followed by the doorbell. i wasn’t expecting anyone but as i got to the door i saw the familiar old blue Pontiac. it was Martin. i looked past him for the cluster of young committed staff members who were always at his side, day and night, but none of them were there. for a moment i thought he might have come with Ralph Abernathy or Andy young for some high-level planning, but no, he was alone. xii / introduction i had never seen Martin like this. He would often sit deep in thought while his staff and local leaders came and went and argued out a problem in front of him, waiting for his decision, but he wasn’t going over something in his mind. He looked worn down, exhausted, almost asleep on his feet. “Where is everyone?” i asked. He then looked at me without his usual warm smile and replied, “i just had to get away. i am so tired, and your house is the only place i could think of where i can be left alone, get some sleep, and be by myself to think.” i opened the door and told him, “Martin, you know this home is always open to you. you’re family. Come on in. you know where everything is, take the room you want. We’ll see that no one bothers you.” The House by the Side of the Road ...

Share