Joy-Ann Reid Presents Historical Novel Medgar & Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America! Part 3

 

Myrlie had many times weighed whether she could stay at home with Medgar. She was often afraid--but it wasn't from her wonderful, loving husband, it was from those who hated her and all Black people there in Mississippi, where Medgar had brought her after they were married. He wanted to be in Mississippi and hopefully help ALL people in the State. He knew that it was those even in the state congress, the governor's office, the mayor's office, the police that instigated all of the efforts to prevent integration...

Medgar had wanted to continue on in the University of Mississippi. But they, too, were prepared and sent his application back that he needed a "white" man's recommendation... Medgar had known many white men as he served our country and, perhaps, could have used one or two of them. But he knew that it wasn't a need for another reference. It was because he was Black. In fact, he and Myrlie had lived in the only Black neighborhood around. He had to stop thinking about a higher education. He needed to work and provide for his family. He took the job with the NAACP when it was offered. The primary function was to travel around the state and work with the Black people in the state to enroll them to vote... All was to be nonviolent...until Medgar and students in the state grew antsy... Do you know that word, it is informal for agitated, anxious, jumpy. I like this little word... I would be antsy if I couldn't go to my local movie theatre to see a movie I had heard about. I'd get antsy if I didn't feel like cooking and wanted to take my children to a local restaurant to get a quick meal.

You know the feeling, don't you? Imagine now, that your children were sent to a substandard school where they used second-hand textbooks...that didn't even talk about the history of your ancestors...  slavery... Yeah, just like politicians are trying to do right now...

On the other hand, the republicans who are trying to work for America are frustrated because of those who Hate Only for Political Power. And, of course, it is not fun to be threatened just because you wanted to do your job...

Now, let's go back to the south where Mississippi held court with 12 white men on anything. Black people were not allowed to be represented... Indeed, they were facing threats from not only the government but their lynch crew. the KKK. ALL Black people knew exactly what was going on--just like all of America who cares knows what is going on right now. And, if they didn't know before, than January 6th was the turning point for many...

Medgar had often told Myrlie that she was stronger than she realized. She didn't understand how that could be until Medgar was murdered, and she had seen him try to crawl toward her as he died in front of her and two of her children. You might say Myrlie grew up that day. But it was through shedding the millions of tears that she had within her... Anybody can imagine that she was screaming inside, yet trying to keep her children from the scene--from their realizing what had just been done by one man... with a gun... By the way, Mrylie kept pressing and, finally, after two acquittals, the man was convicted for her husband's murder...

Mrylie began to receive requests for speaking all over the nation. After all...She was the first widow of a civil rights leader who had been assassinated! As she began sharing, her confidence grew, her words grew stronger, more direct, and more powerful. She was speaking the truth to hundreds of thousands across the nation who listened...

And when she was joined by the wife of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, she welcomed the comfort that these two women could bring to her, knowing that they knew exactly what pain and distress they were all facing. Each would share memories from when they were living as a wife of such a significant leader who faced danger every day... For instance, Myrlie remembered and shared about Medgar talking about when he was very young and all of the children would play together, not thinking about their differences... and then, suddenly, Medgar told her of a day when one of his white friends was standing with a group of young white men...

“He called me ‘nigger,’” Medgar said. “The split had come. The lines were drawn, Blacks on one side, white on the other. I guess at that moment, I realized my status in Mississippi.”14

And the three women all cried together, feeling that same pain... Marian Davis, the first Black person I had ever met and who became my best friend through junior and senior high school, once gave me my first lesson as well... The three of us--Carolyn, Marian and I had gone over to a spudnut show before school. We had all selected our treat and went outside to stand and eat. I had gotten a sputnut with white icing I remember. I can't remember what Carolyn got. But I remember that Marian had gotten a brownie with chocolate icing. Then Marian turned to me and asked if I wanted a bite... I laughed and said "no that's ok..." Then she said what I will never forget... "It's ok, you can take the first bite..." Even today, as I write, my heart melts and tears come to my eyes. She had taught me my first lesson about the races. She knew her status even when I didn't know mine... My respect for Black people began that day when Marian Davis taught me of loving her neighbor as her self...with a twist of irony that I knew she never intended--it was how she had been taught...

How I wish that the twisted minds within our nation had not been incited... again...

Ok, I wanted to end today's post of a high note. Myrlie did discover that Medgar was right... She became a very successful woman, she married again to a man who knew that her first husband was the love of her life, but he loved her enough to want to work to provide her and the children a new home and life... Continuing to Medgar's work in civil rights, and seeing how President Kennedy did finally take action... (Was he murdered also for that act? Makes you wonder about the timing doesn't it...)

Later, we see Myrlie achieving her one dream from her life... She loved the piano classical music as I do...and, that dream had been filled. Participating in a concert at Carnegie Hall! I couldn't find videos back that far, but did find Alicia Keys who would be proud to represent Myrlie and her audience... don't you think?

But Myrlie loved all music so I hope you enjoy these:

The title of a song came to me as I was writing... Then as I listened to it, I remembered one time when I heard Joy sharing that she was a Christian...she fumbled to answer whatever was being discussed. I found it ironic, perhaps even a God Incident, that this song came to mind... For surely I believe that Joy-Ann Reid was led to write this book at this particular time... God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform. Folks, this book needs to be talked about, shared, and praised... Even in tragedies--even with all the lies, God's Love, His Truth will come through... I believe this book is just one way He's working to win over hate and violence in the world... Support those who speak Truth, Speak Love, Speak Jesus...

God Bless Us All

Gabby