CORETTA SCOTT KING

IF THE DEAD COULD SPEAK, WOULD THE MOURNERS LISTEN? CORETTA SCOTT KING LIES IN STATE IN THE GEORGIA CAPITOL BUILDING. WHAT ARE BLACKS IN AMERICA TO REMEMBER AFTER HER PASSING? WHY IS SHE THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN HONORED IN GEORGIA'S CAPITOL? IS IT BECAUSE SHE WAS THE WIFE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR? ...WAS A WOMAN WHO STOOD BY HER MAN IN SPITE OF HIS PHILANDERINGS? ... WAS A MOTHER DEVOTED TO HER CHILDREN AND HER MARRIAGE? ... WAS A WIDOW WHO KEPT HER HUSBAND'S CAUSE ALIVE BY ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A FOUNDATION IN HIS NAME? ... WAS A LEADER WHO TOOK UP THE MANTLE OF CIVIL RIGHTS FROM HER ASSASSINATED HUSBAND? DOES THE HONOR ACCORDED TO HER NOW NECESSITATE INCLUDING ALL OF THE ABOVE?

WHAT IF SHE WERE A BLACK WOMAN WITHOUT COURAGE? WHAT IF SHE WERE A WHITE WIFE? WHAT IF HER STATUS WERE NOT WIFE BUT COHABITANT? WHAT IF SHE HAD DIVORCED DR. KING BEFORE OR AFTER HIS DEATH? WHAT IF SHE HAD RE-MARRIED (AFTER THE DIVORCE) OR AFTER HER HUSBAND'S DEATH? WOULD THE MANNER OF MAN SHE MARRIED MATTER? WHAT IF SHE PURSUED A PRIVATE LIFE AFTER HER HUSBAND'S DEATH, SHUNNING ANY LIMELIGHT TO CARRY ON HIS WORK? WHAT IF COMMITMENT TO DR. KING'S CAUSE WAS NEVER 'ON HER MIND.'?

WHAT IF A CONTRASTING MRS. KING HAD LIVED? WHAT IF HER LIFE DID NOT REPRESENT DIGNITY AND DEVOTION TO THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE? WHAT IF HER LIFE DID NOT CONNOTE THE STRUGGLE AND PERSEVERENCE OF A NOBLE CAUSE? WHAT IF SHE DEFILED A WORTHY LEGACY LEFT BY AN ELOQUENT WRITER AND SPEAKER AND A GREAT, RELIGOUS CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, HER HUSBAND, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.? BUT MRS. KING DID NOT. SHE WASN'T COMPRISED OF ANY IGNOBLE PART. THE SUM OF HER DAYS SET AN EXAMPLE FOR HER FELLOW BLACKS AND AMERICANS TO PONDER AND IMITATE. IF SHE IS SPEAKING FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE, DO BLACKS TODAY HEAR HER? ALL AMERICANS CAN FIND CLOSURE IN HER MESSAGE OF COMMITMENT TO MORALITY, JUSTICE AND LOVE.