Wednesday marks 50 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. Like many American cities, New Orleans named a street in honor of Dr. King.
It's a nearly 2.5-mile stretch of homes and businesses a short distance from the high rises of downtown. WWL -V spoke to those who call MLK Boulevard home.
"Dr. King was a man among men," resident Leonard Reed said.
"He wished for everybody to become brothers or sisters," Brandon Blouin said. "Us being together and just supporting one another."
Residents acknowledge there's still a ways to go.
"I think we're getting there but it's still gonna take a little more work," Blouin said.
Ronnie Hester works at On Faith Donuts on MLK Blvd. He wants to see the crime in the area stop.
"We need to come together more as people, stop the foolishness that's going on," Hester said. "He got assassinated for doing the right thing and it's like the man died in vain because we out here killing each other and it just don't make no sense."
Other residents mentioned the need for better jobs.
"Right now, with the price value of living you gotta work two, three jobs just to make rent," Blouin said. "But if everybody could come together as one and support his dream I think the world will be a better place. I'm proud to say I live on Martin Luther King."
The street was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in January 1977, it used to be called Melpomene. The road now stretches from St. Charles Avenue to Broad Street.