In May 1941, King was 12 years old when his grandmother, Jennie, died of a heart attack. He died in prison on April 23, 1998. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Quick Facts Famous as Worked for civil rights of black people Nationality American Religion Baptist (Progressive National Baptist Convention) Political ideology After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. By 1960, King was gaining national exposure. On October 19, 1960, King and 75 students entered a local department store and requested lunch-counter service but were denied. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed into law a bill creating Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday honoring the legacy of the slain civil rights leader. Although his family was deeply involved in the church and worship, King questioned religion in general and felt uncomfortable with overly emotional displays of religious worship. Everyone who wants to understand America should read this book. Assassinated in 1968, King led a brief life filled with many great accomplishments, working to promote equal treatment of all races. In due time, Michael Jr. would follow his father's lead and adopt the name himself. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. He became a member of Congress, mayor of Atlanta and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. In the 1970s, FBI files, released under the Freedom of Information Act, revealed that he was under government surveillance, and suggested his involvement in adulterous relationships and communist influences. The life of Martin Luther King Jr. Any number of historic moments in the civil-rights struggle have been used to identify Martin Luther King, Jr. — prime mover of the Montgomery bus boycott, keynote speaker at the March on Washington, youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Flush with victory, African American civil rights leaders … It was unfortunate that Martin Luther King Jr. did not get a chance to write his own autobiography, but Clayborne Carson does a wonderful job piecing together Martin's life struggles, highlights and main ideas. In May 1936 he was baptized, but the event made little impression on him. The Washington Post needs a copy of this book. But King also rebelled against his father’s more conservative influence by drinking beer and playing pool while at college. His life and work have been honored with a national holiday, schools and public buildings named after him, and a memorial on Independence Mall in Washington, D.C. Behind the Dream: The Making of the Speech that Transformed a Nation by Clarence B. Jones and Stuart Connelly. This book is a fitting testimony. This "autobiography" left me hungry for the real story. The organization felt the best place to start to give African Americans a voice was to enfranchise them in the voting process. Coretta Scott King was an American civil rights activist and the wife of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther was a German monk who forever changed Christianity when he nailed his '95 Theses' to a church door in 1517, sparking the Protestant Reformation. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. In the big storm of Brexit it is a must to read about the struggles of the civil right movements in the US. In 1969, Ray pleaded guilty to assassinating King and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. They said that King was finally swaying to Malcom X's advocacy of violence to try to combat segregation and discrimination during the later part of King's life and that is just completely wrong according to the source materials set forth in this book. The King children grew up in a secure and loving environment. Years after his death, he is the most widely known African American leader of his era. At her trial a week later, in a 30-minute hearing, Parks was found guilty and fined $10 and assessed $4 court fee. Though they undoubtedly tried, King’s parents couldn’t shield him completely from racism. King had an older sister, Willie Christine, and a younger brother, Alfred Daniel Williams King. Martin Sr. stepped in as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church upon the death of his father-in-law in 1931. From late 1965 through 1967, King expanded his civil rights efforts into other larger American cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles. The students would sit at racially segregated lunch counters in the city's stores. Title: Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. By: Martin Luther King Jr, Clayborne Carson Format: Paperback Number of Pages: 416 Vendor: Warner Publication Date: 2001 Dimensions: 9.1 X 6.11 X 1.12 (inches) Weight: 1 pound 1 ounce ISBN: 0446676500 ISBN-13: 9780446676502 Stock No: WW676502 This resulted in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, authorizing the federal government to enforce desegregation of public accommodations and outlawing discrimination in publicly owned facilities. Not wanting to alienate southern judges by violating the restraining order, a different approach was taken. During his last year in seminary, King came under the guidance of Morehouse College President Benjamin E. Mays who influenced King’s spiritual development. We shall Overcome! On the night that Parks was arrested, E.D. In February 1960, a group of African American students in North Carolina began what became known as the Greensboro sit-in movement. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The rising tide of civil rights agitation produced a strong effect on public opinion. Abolitionist Martin Robison Delany was both a physician and newspaper editor and became one of the most influential and successful anti-slavery activists of the 19th century. On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke the words: “I have a dream.” He completed his Ph.D. and earned his degree in 1955. King's patient, non-violent approach and appeal to white middle-class citizens alienated many Black militants who considered his methods too weak, too late and ineffective. Civil rights leader Whitney Young Jr., head of the National Urban League, was at the forefront of racial integration and African American economic empowerment. He sought to broaden his base by forming a multi-racial coalition to address the economic and unemployment problems of all disadvantaged people. His wife, Susan Ann Carson, is managing editor of the. Through his activism and inspirational speeches, he played a pivotal role in ending the legal segregation of African American citizens in the United States, as well as the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Among his many efforts, King headed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). For many years we have shown an amazing patience. On August 28, 1963, the historic March on Washington drew more than 200,000 people in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s autobiography is the story of one of the great social and political figures of the twentieth century. The author imagines conversations that Dr. King might have, and supports that with snippets of his writing. King was not in the march, however, the attack was televised showing horrifying images of marchers being bloodied and severely injured. King was elected to lead the boycott because he was young, well-trained with solid family connections and had professional standing. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.; Chapter 1: Early Years Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. There's a problem loading this menu right now. But his life remains controversial as well. I am pretty stanchly anti-organized religion because of my perceptions about folks not living their beliefs at all times (which is a really, really tall order, I realize), but this book brought me back to questions my personal opinions, prejudices, and beliefs about religion and the practice thereof. We strive for accuracy and fairness. But Rustin was also a controversial figure at the time, being a homosexual with alleged ties to the Communist Party. He married Jennie Celeste Parks and they had one child that survived, Alberta. I learned so much that I didn't know I didn't know. There were a few sections that were duplicative, but overall I thought it was an excellent, absorbing read. I also really appreciated Martin's digging down to the root cause of black thought in relation to America - why, for example, many young black people leaned toward violence as a method to gain freedom and respect. But then it was revealed that Colvin was pregnant and civil rights leaders feared this would scandalize the deeply religious Black community and make Colvin (and, thus the group's efforts) less credible in the eyes of sympathetic white people. But in his junior year, King took a Bible class, renewed his faith and began to envision a career in the ministry. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta on 15 January 1929. Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2018. King was jailed along with large numbers of his supporters, but the event drew nationwide attention. (3) In their 2018 article on MLK for MLK day, the Washington Post got it wrong. free summary of the autobiography of Martin Luther King Martin Luther King, Jr. (born Michael King, Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American pastor, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. His strong belief in nonviolent protest helped set the tone of the movement. King never wrote an official autobiography. He was the son of Alberta Christine (Williams), a schoolteacher, and Martin Luther King Sr., a pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. On December 1, 1955, they got another chance to make their case. Born as Michael King Jr. on January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. was the middle child of Michael King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. READ MORE: Martin Luther King Jr. and Martin Luther: The Parallels Between the Two Leaders. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Please try again. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, King entered public school at age five. Seventeen demonstrators were hospitalized in a day that would be called "Bloody Sunday.". Firstly, I knew precious little about the man who stands as a giant of history. But we come here tonight to be saved from that patience that makes us patient with anything less than freedom and justice.". Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. (2) MLK is the kind of religious man we see way too rarely - a man who lives his beliefs every minute of every day. In the spring of 1963, King organized a demonstration in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. READ MORE: How Martin Luther King Jr. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Biography: Martin Luther King, Jr. was a civil rights activist in the 1950s and 1960s. He was becoming discouraged at the slow progress of civil rights in America and the increasing criticism from other African American leaders. Plans were in the works for another march on Washington to revive his movement and bring attention to a widening range of issues. Martin Sr. fought against racial prejudice, not just because his race suffered, but because he considered racism and segregation to be an affront to God's will. They were married in June 1953 and had four children, Yolanda, Martin Luther King III, Dexter Scott and Bernice. Buy it if you want to read an outline of his life. Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2013. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.". After being defeated in several lower court rulings and suffering large financial losses, the city of Montgomery lifted the law mandating segregated public transportation. I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World But soon after, King was imprisoned for violating his probation on a traffic conviction. Andrew Young Jr. was an activist for the civil rights movement alongside Martin Luther King Jr. He skipped both the ninth and eleventh grades, and entered Morehouse College in Atlanta at age 15, in 1944. On March 21, approximately 2,000 people began a march from Selma to Montgomery, the state capitol. Extremely engaging and very well compiled. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Martin Luther King Jr., Clayborne Carson Book Review. In January 1957, King, Ralph Abernathy and 60 ministers and civil rights activists founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to harness the moral authority and organizing power of Black churches. During the work on his doctorate, King met Coretta Scott, an aspiring singer and musician at the New England Conservatory school in Boston. A generation of young people has come out of decades of shadows to face naked state power; it has lost its fears, and experienced the majestic dignity of a direct struggle for its own liberation. Teenager Claudette Colvin was then arrested and taken to jail. The greatest way to do that is through love. When asked to leave or sit in the colored section, they just remained seated, subjecting themselves to verbal and sometimes physical abuse. Boycotts, protests, and marches were eventually effective, and much legislation was passed against racial discrimination. Out of this meeting, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee formed and for a time, worked closely with the SCLC. But the African American community also took legal action against the city ordinance arguing that it was unconstitutional based on the Supreme Court's "separate is never equal" decision in Brown v. Board of Education. King was only 25 years old. On March 2, 1955, a 15-year-old girl refused to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery city bus in violation of local law. Martin Luther King Jr.(born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptistminister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movementfrom 1955 until his assassinationin 1968. This discomfort continued through much of his adolescence, initially leading him to decide against entering the ministry, much to his father's dismay. He thrived in all his studies, and was valedictorian of his class in 1951, and elected student body president. Apparently this writer was commissioned by MLK's family to write an account of his life, based on his writings and their remembrances. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Although it is not an Autobiography penned by MLK himself, in many ways this is a more reliable telling of events in his life since the source material is all his letters, papers, newspaper articles, and contemporaneous writing of people who were present to witness the various events. On March 9, 1965, a procession of 2,500 marchers, both Black and white, set out once again to cross the Pettus Bridge and confronted barricades and state troopers. The movement quickly gained traction in several other cities. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the twentieth century's most influential men and lived one of its most extraordinary lives. Check out the biography to know about his childhood, life and timeline. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Jan. 15, 1929–April 4, 1968) was the charismatic leader of the U.S. civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Quotes Showing 1-30 of 138 “A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. They would help conduct non-violent protests to promote civil rights reform. Other than that, I could have made better use of my time. He was a popular student, especially with his female classmates, but an unmotivated student who floated through his first two years. Discussions on the concepts of power and love and nonviolence and violence were exceptional. Five months after the historic peaceful protest, President Johnson signed the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Actor, singer Dean Martin starred in several films with Jerry Lewis and belonged to the "Rat Pack," which included Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Ralph D. Abernathy was a Baptist minister who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was a close adviser to Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a scholar and minister who led the civil rights movement. Finally, there were a number of passages that could have been written today - so many points Martin made are as fresh as ever. The event was traumatic for King, more so because he was out watching a parade against his parents' wishes when she died. Though his counsel was invaluable to King, many of his other supporters urged him to distance himself from Rustin. The bus boycott involved 382 days of walking to work, harassment, violence, and intimidation for Montgomery's African American community. When a mostly white jury acquitted the police officers who were caught on video beating Rodney King, it set off the L.A. riots of 1992. In 1948, King earned a sociology degree from Morehouse College and attended the liberal Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania. He hoped that America and the world could become a colorblind society where race would not impact a person's civil rights. King was soon released. I may not get there with you. Martin Luther King Jr. - Mini Biography TV-14 4:40 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is widely considered the most influential leader of the American civil rights movement. Nixon, head of the local NAACP chapter met with King and other local civil rights leaders to plan a Montgomery Bus Boycott. He too became a successful minister and adopted the name Martin Luther King Sr. in honor of the German Protestant religious leader Martin Luther. Martin Luther King Jr. Biographical M artin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a well-known civil rights activist who had a great deal of influence on American society in the 1950s and 1960s. Martin Sr. was more the disciplinarian, while his wife's gentleness easily balanced out the father's strict hand. Both King's and Nixon's homes were attacked. It was like he was sitting next to you telling you the story of his life. This is the example of a leader as Servant - a powerful man who dedicated his power not to the creation of personal wealth but to improving the conditions for millions of people. It is not even an autobiography as told to, such as the Autobiography of Malcolm X. He led non-violent protests to fight for the rights of all people including African Americans. By August of 1960, the sit-ins had been successful in ending segregation at lunch counters in 27 southern cities. Three other African American passengers reluctantly gave up their places, but Parks remained seated. Very good book. Christopher Hitchens). READ MORE: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Famous Speech Almost Didn’t Have the Phrase 'I Have a Dream'. The driver asked her again to give up her seat and again she refused. Eye-opening, and insightful. He continues to be remembered as one of the most influential and inspirational African American leaders in history. There was a problem loading your book clubs. All I can say after reading this book is WOW - what an amazing story. In 1954, while still working on his dissertation, King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church of Montgomery, Alabama. Martin's revelations are timeless. In more than 200,000 people in the United Kingdom on April 23, 1998 him a of... To enfranchise them in the big storm of Brexit it is a very long.! Newlyweds moved to A.D. 's home in Atlanta on 15 January 1929 the Speech that Transformed Nation! 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