For one, as Coretta later explained it, “he was reluctant in the first place to own a house. He didn’t want to own a house because he felt that this would set him apart,” and “felt it was inconsistent with his philosophy” and his strong doubts about America’s celebration of private property. He had “strong feelings about owning a lot of property or acquiring a lot of wealth,” and brushed off his wife’s frequent reminders that the family deserved a better abode.
