Gordon Belray
The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
2016, revised 2017, 2019
120" x 52”
Archival print
Martin Luther was assassinated by a single sniper's bullet while standing on the balcony outside room 306 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, at 6:01pm on April 4th, 1968. King was in Memphis supporting striking African American sanitation workers and had delivered his final sermon the night before at the Mason Temple:
The image is assembled from several hundred manipulated and colorized photographs by Joseph Louw, crime scene and found photos as well as stills from archival films. His alleged assassin, a local fugitive, James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to the crime and was convicted to 99 years at a Memphis State Penitentiary where he died in 1998. In the civil case Coretta Scott King v. Loyd Jowers in 1999, a jury found that King had been the victim of assassination by a conspiracy involving the Memphis police as well as federal agencies.
And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats... or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?
Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land.
I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!
Delivered 3 April 1968, Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ Headquarters), Memphis, Tennessee
The Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is part of a tetralogy of pivotal U.S. assassinations from the 1960's and includes John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Malcolm X.
The scene from the balcony.
The Memphis Fire Deptartment responds to the emergency call.
Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson and Juanita Abernathy point to approaching police where the gunshot came. The Rev. Ralph Abernathy kneels next Dr. King.
Dr. King is killed by a single bullet while about to smoke a cigarette on the hotel's balcony.
The back of the rooming houses on Main street, the top bathroom window the location of the alleged sniper James Earl Ray.
Bystanders by the Lorraine Motel's covered pool.
Memphis Police move down Mulberry Street past the Lorraine Motel's office.
Memphis Police scamper down Mulberry Steet past the Lorraine Motel's sign and Fire Station No. 2. Despite the heavy police presence, Ray managed to escape to Toronto and later to London England, where he was eventually apprehended.
A small crowd gathers outside the motel office while police search the vicinity.
Police jump down from the fire station looking for the assassin.
2017 Revision
MLK lies dying from a single gunshot to his head as he was about to smoke a cigarette on the hotel balcony, while Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson and Juanita Abernathy point to where the gunshot came. The Rev. Ralph Abernathy kneels next to the fatally wounded King.
King lies dying from a single gunshot to his head while Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson and Juanita Abernathy point to where the gunshot came. The Rev. Ralph Abernathy kneels next to the fatally wounded King.
A Memphis Fire Dept. ambulance hurries to save MLK.
The back of the rooming houses on Main street, the top bathroom window the location of the alleged sniper James Earl Ray.
Bystanders by the Lorraine Motel's covered pool.
Police scamper down Mulberry Steet past the Lorraine Motel's sign and Fire Station No. 2, despite the heavy police presence, James Earl Ray managed to escape to Toronto and later to London England, where he was eventually apprehended.
A dormant tree behind the rooming houses.
Police run down Mulberry Street past the Lorraine Motel's office.
