We specialize in screen printed shirts, but screen printing has been used on other canvases to make a statement throughout history. Today, we honor those who bravely stood against powerful people and changed the world.
It is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis Tennessee. He set an example for all people – no matter what their race or ethnicity – as a conduit to change through peaceful protest. King’s reason for being in Memphis took place on February 1, 1968 following the deaths of Echol Cole and Robert Walker, two African-American sanitation workers who were crushed in the back of a garbage truck and later died.
Robert Walker and Echol Cole were cold and soaked from a storm that dropped several inches of rain. While white sanitation workers sat in the cab in the front of the truck and stayed dry, black workers were not allowed to sit up front. On that first day of February, Cole and Walker climbed into the back of the garbage truck to stay dry. According to reports, an electrical switch malfunctioned, and the compactor turned on, crushing the men to death. The Memphis Public Works Department refused to compensate the men’s families. It’s important to remember that the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964, yet clearly nothing had changed. Within weeks, more than 1200 Memphis sanitation workers went on strike. Dr. King joined the fight on March 18, 1968 and the world watched.
The strike produced one of the most iconic statements of the Civil Rights Era with “I AM A MAN,” professionally screen printed picket signs counted well into the hundreds using the quote. Other noted protests during that time including the March to Washington also used screen printing technology. Today, “I AM A MAN” custom apparel is sold at The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where King was killed.
Learn more about Dr. King’s final days online at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta, GA.
T shirt screen printing can be done on a variety of fabrics. At Scrappy Apparel Company we believe the shirt you choose to print on is just as important as the design. Here is a list and descriptions to help you choose the perfect shirt for what you are trying to accomplish. LEARN MORE