A Religious Exercise

D.C.s history is one that has national and local implications. One event in D.C.s history that can be viewed from both perspectives is the disorder following Rev. Kings assassination. Yet an important aspect of Kings personal history is his religious background and grounding. I plan on showing the response by the religious community to the civil disorders and riots in D.C. following Dr. Kings assassination.

Compared to what has already been done, the addition of the religious community is just a different angle on an event covered. While there are interviews of rioters, radicals, or politicals on record, the major religious players in calming D.C. seem to have been forgotten. Pastors, Rabbis, Reverends, Priests were all a part of the response to the question of faith that was Kings death yet I want to find out how they responded specifically. I want to learn what they did for their congregations, and if they mobilized their communities during those trying days.

Present day, I see the need for religious communities and congregations to reach out to, not just their own but, the city as a whole. The religious community is ripe with the inspiring leaders that would be necessary to lead the charge, and I hope my thesis leads to an answer on how those leaders could help the city I call home.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• thesis