Episode #2:
Did Dr. Martin Luther King's Dream Become a Nightmare?
Dr. King's legacy inspired generations of activists and leaders, and his contributions continue to be recognized and celebrated today as a beacon of hope and progress. But Dr. King had a premonition about his death, and he warned the members of his Inner Circle to beware of the tactics external forces would use to break the movement apart after he was gone.
​
As a member of the King's Inner Circle, Rev. Hosea Williams served as the advance man, organizing some of the most important events in the movement. Williams traveled to cities throughout the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers, paving the way for appearances by Dr. King, Jesse Jackson, and Andrew Young. Williams and John Lewis led the "Bloody Sunday" march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965.
This episode features an interview from September of 1994 with Dr. Shelley Stewart and Rev. Hosea Williams. Hosea reveals the dire warning Dr. King had for the members of his Inner Circle.
Was Hosea Williams right? Did the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Become a Nightmare?
We want to hear from you. Submit your vote. Additionally, use the contact form at the bottom of the page to share additional thoughts, comments, and questions.
Click An Icon Below To Listen To Podcast
More About Hosea Williams & Dr. King's Inner Circle
The Irish Times
Member of King's Inner Circle Who Was Used to Stir Up Blackunrest
Hosea Williams, one of the most active and controversial members of Dr. Martin Luther King's inner circle, died on November 16th aged 74. In 1968, he witnessed the assination of Dr. King, who had once described him as "my wild man, my Castro".
​
King relied heavily on Hosea's fiery rhetoric to stir up black opposition to southern segregation. Once he had created a furore, King could arrive much more effectively with his message of peace and reconciliation...
USA Today
List of People at the Lorraine Motel With Martin Luther King Jr.
Also depicted in the photo of King on the balcony the day before his death is Hosea Williams. Williams was arrested 125 times for his militant acts of defiance while working in service to the civil rights movement. Perhaps his passion for civil rights was a direct consequence of his having been beaten so severely he was hospitalized for five weeks because he had a drink at a "whites-only" bar. Not as well known as King or Jackson, Williams nevertheless was a major figure in the civil rights movement with several triumphs to his credit. Because of his efforts, Savannah, Georgia, was the first city to ban "whites-only" lunch counters. He also led a march against the Klu Klux Klan in 1987 and won a $950,000 jury award after suing Forsyth County. He later became a senator and died of cancer in 2000.
#Ronald Martin Unfiltered
Dr. Dorothy Cotton, the only woman in MLK's inner circle, in her last sitdown TV interview.
#RolandMartinUnfiltered streamed an exclusive interview with key members of the civil rights movement, including Dr. Dorothy, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and so many others.
Dive Deeper
CNN OPINION
Martin Luther King’s dream is alive
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would hardly recognize America in 2013, the 50th anniversary year of his world-famous “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
​
The efforts of King and countless others have not only made it possible for Barack Obama to become the first black president of the United States, but also created unprecedented opportunities for the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and virtually anyone who had previously been given a check that has, as King put it, “come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’”