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One of the most striking features of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis is the way it incorporates the structure of the Lorraine Motel into its exibits. The room in which Martin Luther King, Jr., was staying has been preserved exactly like it was moments before he was killed in 1968.

Clothes, suitcases, books and the like are scattered throughout the room. What most shocks children is a full ashtray and open pack of cigarettes. Is it possible that this icon engaged in a vulgar smoking habit?

It’s difficult for today’s youth to grasp that until recently more adults smoked than abstained. But the important lesson is that all humans, including King, can be weak and fallible. Acknowledging these frailties doesn’t diminish heroes like King; rather, it makes their accomplishments even more remarkable.