Rev. Dr. M.L. King, Jr.

[Immersion]

Anyone who knows anything about civil rights is familar with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His first pastorship was in a church across the street from the capitol building where jefferson Davis took the oath of office as the President of the Confedracy just before the outbreak of the civil war. Rosa Parks lived in the same town, Montgomery, Albama, and when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, she was arrested, and Dr. King and his colleagues put the civil rights movement into motion. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. is a record of the thoughts, philosophies and events that shaped the opinions and strategies of civil rights movement. If you haven't read this book, you should. It will enlighten you as to what sacrifices were made in this country over a hundred years after the civil war ended, and almost two hundred years after the Constitution was written. Dr. King was silenced by a bullet in Memphis, TN., but his message wasn't, still providing hope and strength to a heritage that deserves equality and life, liberty and the pursuiy of happiness.

[wburns_kh]

Speaking of King, the paperback edition of Taylor Branch's At Canaan's Edge, the third volume of his biography of King, is currently listed under "new and forthcoming books." It's a good resource for seeing what's coming out and planning your reading.

[ScottJ1961]

Dr. King was a great man. The only thing I remember about him or his time is his killing. But I grew up in a household where we didn't look a person's skin color. I've read a good deal about the Civil Rights movement and Dr. King. I've read the first two books in Taylor Branch's trilogy on America in the King years. I have read Warriors Don't Cry about the Little Rock school crisis in 1956. That was an excelent book. Another great book is Death Of Innocence by Mammie Till-Mobley. It gives the account of the death of Emmit Till in 1954. There are some great books about the civil rights movement.

[Pawcatuck]

We've been studying some of his speeches at my church's book group. I knew he was an orator like few others, but seeing them on the printed page made me realize that his speeches are history and literature as well: closely reasoned and beautifully written.

We took turns reading "I Have a Dream" out loud. I got the last part -- "let freedom ring..." -- and was just about crying by the end.