Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968)

Finally got around to reading this. It was a very enlightening read. This is not a biography or commentary but simply a collection of MLK's writing curated and introduced by Cornel West. It really gave me a more profound insight into his politics (which was more complex than most discussions tend to show, even me who knew about that didn't know the full extent) but also pacifism in general. I'm not against violence to resist oppression, non-violence does not always work, but I will admit to having a more limited understanding of non-violence which has been expanded by this book.
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Unfortunately, Martin Luther King’s legacy is often distilled into being a person who gave great speeches and advocated for a colorblind society. What’s missing in that simplistic view is his genius at organizing, his tactical brilliance, and his ability to create a vision that everyone could see. This book goes into all of that, in his own words. That helps as his actions aren’t being filtered or interpreted by someone else. King provides a great snapshot—almost like a historian—of 1963 and how the world was focusing their attentions after the assassination of President Kennedy. The main focus is on the actions in Birmingham and his ability to create a form of economic and racial justice for the people there. He also backtracks and provides a great deal of strategies—be it Biblical teachings, Gandhi, or his own understanding of America’s inhumane caste system. With social injustice still happening around the world, this book is important for anyone who has dedicated themselves to creating positive change.… (meer)