Advertisement
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Just £9.99 for the next 8 weeks
SUBSCRIBE
Social Justice

A Memphis street paper vendor tells us how MLK is a lifetime inspiration

The Bridge vendor Antonio Harris says he has his own dream, to help the homeless and to bless other people

Martin Luther King is my all-time favourite activist. I love his message of peace and unity. He really cared about poor people. And I hate that he died in Memphis. He was a great part of history, but I hate that he died in Memphis.

My name is Antonio Harris. I am 36. And I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. I started selling The Bridge (a similar venture to The Big Issue) because I wanted to interact with people, with my brothers and sisters in Memphis. I was homeless, for about three-and-a-half months. I was living in the Memphis Union Mission, at bus stops; I lived at seven different rooming houses. That time really showed me how important it is to help homeless people. I learned how to give back to the community. In addition to The Bridge, I also work with HOPE [Homeless Organizing for Peace and Equality].

I have a dream. I want to do great things

Through my work with HOPE and The Bridge, I have seen the reasons that cause homelessness. It’s crazy. We have so many vacant buildings here, and so many people without homes. We really need to turn those vacant buildings into homes for the homeless. It’s like the whole world is turned upside down.

I don’t like our president. Not really. I’ve really only liked two presidents: Clinton and Obama. I love Memphis, but we have problems. We really need women’s shelters. There’s all these women and they have nowhere to go. If we had more jobs for the homeless, the homeless wouldn’t be robbing and stealing. We need jobs and we need free shelters.

I think there are negatives to free shelters, because people maybe won’t do anything and they’ll just stay in the shelter for free. So I see the pros and cons, but I think we need them. The United States is the richest country in the world, and we need to use that to progress.

People don’t know this life. I always tell people they need to spend one night on the street. Have you ever spent a night on the street? I’m sure you wouldn’t want to, it’s terrible. But I think everyone needs to do it. Because then people will know how hard it is to be homeless.

Advertisement
Advertisement

I have a dream. I want to do great things, I want to help the homeless and I want to bless other people. But I also have other dreams. I’ve always wanted to be a singer. I’ve always loved singing. I like everything, gospel, rock, especially rock. My favourite band is probably Nirvana. Do you know Nirvana? But I also like classical music. I like Sinatra.

I also want to be an actor. I’ve always wanted to be on The Young and the Restless, my favourite show. And it’s hard, man. It’s hard being an actor, they have to memorise their lines and everything, but I think I could do it. So I want to be a singer, an actor, and I want to impact people around the world.

We’re giving away five copies of Martin Luther King’s Why We Can’t Wait, re-released to mark the anniversary of his death.

Advertisement

Buy a Big Issue Vendor Support Kit

This Christmas, give a Big Issue vendor the tools to keep themselves warm, dry, fed, earning and progressing.

Recommended for you

View all
Help stop care leavers from falling into homelessness, Labour told: 'People are suffering'
Care leavers

Help stop care leavers from falling into homelessness, Labour told: 'People are suffering'

Danny Dyer says people looked at him 'like scum' while he sold the Big Issue in London
Andre Rostant and Danny Dyer selling The Big Issue on Charing Cross Road
Our vendors

Danny Dyer says people looked at him 'like scum' while he sold the Big Issue in London

'Vulnerable' young mental health patients discharged into caravans, B&Bs and onto the street
Mental health
Mental health

'Vulnerable' young mental health patients discharged into caravans, B&Bs and onto the street

'It's changed our life': These modern slavery survivors are finding hope at Christmas through music
modern slavery choir
Modern slavery

'It's changed our life': These modern slavery survivors are finding hope at Christmas through music

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know