WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)

Description

In this WSB newsfilm clip dated July 2, 1974, a crowd of mourners and observers gather around Ebenezer Baptist Church for the viewing of the body of Alberta Williams King, mother of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as her body lies in state at Ebenezer Baptist Church the day before her funeral. A large crowd is gathered in the Auburn Avenue neighborhood surrounding the church; members of the King family, including Coretta Scott King and Christine King Farris are seen in attendance. The clip's audio track is comprised of background noise captured from the event.The clip begins with a shot of a hearse parked in front of the entrance of the Ebenezer Baptist Church; a stream of spectators and mourners are cordoned off on the sidewalk by the church. A close-up shot shows an unidentified African American man taking photographs with an instant camera. Onlookers have also gathered across the street as they observe activities at the church. Throughout the clip, footage of mourners and observers lined up in front of the church and on sidewalks along Auburn Avenue are interspersed with the activities taking place in front of thechurch. A police officer adjusts the cordon separating the crowd from the open church doors, while church ushers dressed in suits wait in front of the church entrance. Next, a police motorcycle escort leads several limousines down Auburn Avenue to park in front of Ebenezer Baptist Church; the limousines are then guided by church attendants into parking spots. Several members of...

Record Contributed By

Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia