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The Individual, Auto/biography and History in South Africa

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At the National Historic Site’s Visitor Centre, visitors are also <strong>in</strong>vited to participate <strong>in</strong><br />

the promotion of K<strong>in</strong>g’s legacy, <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> add<strong>in</strong>g to K<strong>in</strong>g’s <strong>biography</strong> <strong>in</strong> the sett<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

Sweet Auburn. Brochures are distributed to young visitors at an educational<br />

‘Discovery Centre’ with explanations of the nature of Jim Crow laws, read<strong>in</strong>g lists on<br />

the history of the Civil Rights movement, <strong>and</strong> a list of organisations <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong><br />

antiracist work <strong>and</strong> peace activism. Young visitors are <strong>in</strong>vited to “make Dr K<strong>in</strong>g’s<br />

dream come true” by pledg<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong> writ<strong>in</strong>g, to honour his life <strong>and</strong> non‐violent work,<br />

<strong>and</strong> committ<strong>in</strong>g themselves to “actively help to promote freedom, justice, <strong>and</strong> world<br />

peace”. As the federal agency with responsibility for adm<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> manag<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

site, <strong>and</strong> for “tell<strong>in</strong>g the story of Dr K<strong>in</strong>g, the Civil Rights Movement <strong>and</strong> the Sweet<br />

Auburn community”, the National Parks Service also <strong>in</strong>itiated an oral history<br />

programme, locat<strong>in</strong>g Auburn Avenue residents with memories of the time of K<strong>in</strong>g’s<br />

youth as well as his adult years when he returned as the co‐pastor of Ebenezer.<br />

Information “that may not be widely known” would “exp<strong>and</strong> the knowledge” of<br />

K<strong>in</strong>g’s life <strong>in</strong> the Sweet Auburn community. 98<br />

Opposite the Visitor Centre on Auburn Avenue, Mart<strong>in</strong> Luther K<strong>in</strong>g Jr’s body lies <strong>in</strong> a<br />

memorial gravesite consist<strong>in</strong>g of the crypt, reflect<strong>in</strong>g pool, eternal flame, chapel <strong>and</strong><br />

courtyard. Alongside the tomb, also fac<strong>in</strong>g the Visitor Centre is the Mart<strong>in</strong> Luther<br />

K<strong>in</strong>g Jr Centre for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc (<strong>The</strong> K<strong>in</strong>g Centre), which “cont<strong>in</strong>ues<br />

Dr K<strong>in</strong>g’s work toward economic <strong>and</strong> social equality”. Founded <strong>in</strong> 1968 by K<strong>in</strong>g’s<br />

widow, Coretta Scott K<strong>in</strong>g, the Centre is headed by K<strong>in</strong>g’s younger son, Dexter Scott<br />

K<strong>in</strong>g. In addition to an exhibition which displays K<strong>in</strong>g’s various awards <strong>and</strong> focuses<br />

on K<strong>in</strong>g’s G<strong>and</strong>hian <strong>in</strong>fluences, the K<strong>in</strong>g Centre coord<strong>in</strong>ates a schedule of<br />

commemorative services, musical celebrations, book sign<strong>in</strong>gs with Coretta Scott K<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

98 See the follow<strong>in</strong>g brochures <strong>and</strong> pamphlets from Mart<strong>in</strong> Luther K<strong>in</strong>g, Jr National Historic Site,<br />

‘Look<strong>in</strong>g for Good Memories’ (Pamphlet, n.d.); ‘Oral <strong>History</strong> Interview Information’ (Reply Sheet,<br />

n.d.); see also the follow<strong>in</strong>g brochures <strong>and</strong> pamphlets from the Mart<strong>in</strong> Luther K<strong>in</strong>g, Jr National<br />

Historic Site Discovery Centre, ‘Sweet Auburn’ (Brochure <strong>and</strong> Map, n.d.); ‘Jim Crow Laws’<br />

(Pamphlet, n.d.); ‘To Learn More … To Do More’ (Pamphlet, n.d.); ‘Make Dr. K<strong>in</strong>g’s dream come<br />

true’ (Pledge card, n.d.).<br />

87

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