Bahamian Remembers Martin Luther King’s Visits

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Click Here to listen to the Interview

Civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. figures in the Monday Geo Quiz: The memorial statue of Dr. King was dedicated in Washington on Sunday.

It’s not far from where he delivered his ‘I Have A Dream’ speech during the 1963 March on Washington.

King wrote another of his memorable speeches while locked up in a Birmingham jail. Two others he wrote while visiting the Bahamas.

So we want you to name the westernmost district of the Bahamas.

During Prohibition, it was a notorious safe haven for rum runners. And it was once home to another famous writer, Ernest Hemingway.

A big blue marlin caught near here is said to have inspired The Old Man & The Sea.

Martin Luther King Jr. visited in 1964 and again in 1968. He wrote his famous Nobel Prize Acceptance speech, and later his Sanitation Workers speech while visiting these islands.

So can you name this westernmost district of the Bahamas? The answer is the district of Bimini.

We hear from Ansel Saunders, a boat builder and fisherman in Bimini. His family’s been living in this district of the Bahamas for five generations.

(Jake Warga sent the audio postcard from Bimini)

4 COMMENTS

  1. Media I agree, this story should be plaster in all morning dailies in the Bahamas…. well almost all dallies. We all know which ones won’t carry such a positive story about a BLACK man.

  2. What a wonderful interview by Mr. Ansell Saunders, on Martian Luther King’s visit to Bimini.

    Ansel is well spoken and alert for a man his age. I hope the Ministry of Tourism sends him a check.

    Mr. Saunders descriptive painting of the glory of God’s creation on and around Bimini was stellar, and TRUE!
    I’ve had a few moment on that beautiful island where as, I also thought I could have though the FACE OF GOD.

    • Wisdom, It is reports like this which catches our eyes. It illuminates one’s spirit and captures the power of God in the world. But you know the members of the WUTLESS MEDIA would not have any part in such reports. They are too busy following up and down the OBEAH workers!

      We wouldn’t talk about the atheists in the Ministry of Tourism.

      BP

  3. Dr King visited Bimini in 1964 but there is no record of him being in Bimini in 1968. I have read a couple of authoritative bios on Dr King and they all mention Bimini in 1964 but not 1968. Local historian Ashley Saunders in his history of Bimini mentions only 1964.
    But what a great thing that Dr King did come to The Bahamas and to Bimini. His visit to Bimini in 1964 is now marked with several plaques on the island.

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