In 1958, Martin Luther King Jr. was stabbed at a book signing. The assassination attempt left him 'just a sneeze away from death.'

Isaiah ReynoldsMar 12, 2023, 21:52 IST

Associated Press

In 1958, Martin Luther King Jr. was stabbed at a book signing in Harlem by Izola Ware Curry.
The event nearly killed Dr. King, who was rushed to nearby Harlem Hospital and underwent emergency surgery.

Ten years before his untimely death, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. suffered an assassination attempt that left him "just a sneeze away from death."

Greitzer/NY Daily News

On September 20th, 1958, Dr. King was at a book signing for his memoir, 'Stride Toward Freedom,' at Blumstein's Department Store in Harlem. Georgia native Izola Curry was in the line of attendees waiting to speak with Dr. King.

Associated Press

On September 20th, 1958, Dr. King was at a book signing for his memoir, 'Stride Toward Freedom,' at Blumstein's Department Store in Harlem. Georgia native Izola Curry was in the line of attendees waiting to speak with Dr. King.

As her turn to speak with Dr. King arrived, Curry approached the civil rights leader and reportedly asked, "Are you Martin Luther King?""Yes," Dr. King replied without looking up.Curry then reached into her handbag, raised a seven-inch letter opener, and drove it into Dr. King's upper chest.

The letter opener can be seen protruding from King's upper chest.Vernoll Coleman/New York Daily News

As her turn to speak with Dr. King arrived, Curry approached the civil rights leader and reportedly asked, "Are you Martin Luther King?""Yes," Dr. King replied without looking up.Curry then reached into her handbag, raised a seven-inch letter opener, and drove it into Dr. King's upper chest.

Chaos quickly ensued. Swarms of bystanders attended to Dr. King, while security immediately apprehended Curry. Not running or resisting, Curry reportedly exclaimed, "I've been after him for six years — I'm glad I done it."

New York Daily News / Contributor

Chaos quickly ensued. Swarms of bystanders attended to Dr. King, while security immediately apprehended Curry. Not running or resisting, Curry reportedly exclaimed, "I've been after him for six years — I'm glad I done it."

Dr. King was rushed to the nearby Harlem Hospital where medical professionals performed emergency surgery for two hours.

The letter opener still protruding from his chest, medical staff wheels Dr. King into Harlem Hospital for surgery.New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images

Officials, family, and preachers visited King pushing for his speedy recovery

New York Governor Averell Harriman stands at the hospital bed of MLK in his recovery.Bettmann/Getty Images

Back at Blumstein's, Curry was arrested. At the time, she was working as a housekeeper and factory worker, but her deteriorating mental health had pushed her to a state of increased paranoia.

Associated Press

Back at Blumstein's, Curry was arrested. At the time, she was working as a housekeeper and factory worker, but her deteriorating mental health had pushed her to a state of increased paranoia.

Dr. King recovered from the attack over the next few days. In a speech he gave ten years later, Dr. King spoke of the attack, saying, "The X-rays revealed that the tip of the blade was on the edge of my aorta, the main artery. And once that's punctured, you're drowned in your own blood — that's the end of you."

John Lent/Associated Press

Dr. King recovered from the attack over the next few days. In a speech he gave ten years later, Dr. King spoke of the attack, saying, "The X-rays revealed that the tip of the blade was on the edge of my aorta, the main artery. And once that's punctured, you're drowned in your own blood — that's the end of you."

Following the attack, Curry was admitted to Bellevue Hospital and was deemed unfit to stand trial. Thirty days later, she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and committed to Matteawan State Hospital.

Bettmann/Getty Images

Following the attack, Curry was admitted to Bellevue Hospital and was deemed unfit to stand trial. Thirty days later, she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and committed to Matteawan State Hospital.

Upon learning about his assailant's mental state, Dr. King wrote of his concern and hopes for Curry: "I am deeply sorry that a deranged woman should have injured herself in seeking to injure me… I know that we want her to receive the necessary treatment so that she may become a constructive citizen in an integrated society where a disorganized personality need not become a menace to any man."

Governor Averell Harriman and Coretta Scott King stand at MLK's bedside two days after the stabbing incident.Ray Howard/Associated Press

Upon learning about his assailant's mental state, Dr. King wrote of his concern and hopes for Curry: "I am deeply sorry that a deranged woman should have injured herself in seeking to injure me… I know that we want her to receive the necessary treatment so that she may become a constructive citizen in an integrated society where a disorganized personality need not become a menace to any man."

In his now infamous, 'I've been to the mountaintop' speech, delivered on April 3, 1968, in Memphis, Dr. King spoke of the attack, saying, "I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze," or he would not have been able to witness the Freedom Rides or the strides made by the Civil Rights movement. The very next day, on April 4, 1968, Dr. King was killed by James Earl Ray.

Dr. Martin Luther King addresses some 2,000 people on the eve of his death, giving the speech "I've been to the mountaintop."Bettmann via Getty

In his now infamous, 'I've been to the mountaintop' speech, delivered on April 3, 1968, in Memphis, Dr. King spoke of the attack, saying, "I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze," or he would not have been able to witness the Freedom Rides or the strides made by the Civil Rights movement. The very next day, on April 4, 1968, Dr. King was killed by James Earl Ray.

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In 1958, Martin Luther King Jr. was stabbed at a book signing. The assassination attempt left him 'just a sneeze away from death.'

Ten years before his untimely death, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. suffered an assassination attempt that left him "just a sneeze away from death."

On September 20th, 1958, Dr. King was at a book signing for his memoir, 'Stride Toward Freedom,' at Blumstein's Department Store in Harlem. Georgia native Izola Curry was in the line of attendees waiting to speak with Dr. King.

As her turn to speak with Dr. King arrived, Curry approached the civil rights leader and reportedly asked, "Are you Martin Luther King?""Yes," Dr. King replied without looking up.Curry then reached into her handbag, raised a seven-inch letter opener, and drove it into Dr. King's upper chest.

Chaos quickly ensued. Swarms of bystanders attended to Dr. King, while security immediately apprehended Curry. Not running or resisting, Curry reportedly exclaimed, "I've been after him for six years — I'm glad I done it."

Dr. King was rushed to the nearby Harlem Hospital where medical professionals performed emergency surgery for two hours.

Officials, family, and preachers visited King pushing for his speedy recovery

Back at Blumstein's, Curry was arrested. At the time, she was working as a housekeeper and factory worker, but her deteriorating mental health had pushed her to a state of increased paranoia.

Following the attack, Curry was admitted to Bellevue Hospital and was deemed unfit to stand trial. Thirty days later, she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and committed to Matteawan State Hospital.