The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Volume VI: Advocate of the Social Gospel, September 1948-March 1963 (Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr)

Book Description

Dedicated to documenting the life of America's best-known advocate for peace and justice, The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. breaks the chronology of its series to present King's never-before-published sermon file. In 1997 Mrs. Coretta Scott King granted the King Papers Project permission to examine papers kept in boxes in the basement of the Kings' home. The most significant finding was a battered cardboard box that held more than two hundred folders containing documents King used to prepare his celebrated sermons. This private collection that King kept in his study sheds considerable light on the theology and preaching preparation of one of the most noted orators of the modern era.
These illuminating papers reveal that King's concern about poverty, human rights, and social justice was clearly present in his earliest handwritten sermons, which conveyed a message of faith, hope, and love for the dispossessed. His enduring message can be charted through his years as a seminary student, as pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, as a leader of the Montgomery bus boycott, and, ultimately, as an internationally renowned proponent of human rights who saw himself mainly as a preacher and "advocate of the social gospel." Ten of the original and unedited sermons King submitted for publication in the 1963 book Strength to Love and audio versions of King's most famous sermons are the culmination of this groundbreaking work.

The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Speech that Inspired a Nation

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An Insider View of Greatness
The Power of God in Man
More than a cuddly icon
"I have a dream" - more than just a speech
King of the Dream

The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Speech that Inspired a Nation
Drew Hansen
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060084774
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Book Description

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., electrified the nation when he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In The Dream, Drew D. Hansen explores the fascinating and little-known history of King's legendary address. The Dream insightfully considers how King's speech "has slowly remade the American imagination," and led us closer to King's visionary goal of a redeemed America.

Customer Reviews:

An Insider View of Greatness.......2006-05-01

Few speeches in American history are as well known or had the impact of the "Dream Speech". Hansen's wonderful book gives us a unique and insider's view of how the speech was developed, its roots in scripture and in King's lifetime of words up to that point. The analysis of the composition gives the reader a new appreciation of the speech's powerful messages, but also of the sheer beauty of the rhythm and cadence of the words. You can almost hear King's voice come off the pages.

The Power of God in Man.......2004-01-24

Martin Luther King was not an unusual black man; in fact, he wanted much of what many black men before him, probably all black men and women wanted. But Martin Luther King was a very unusual man, who happened to be black. His degree of passion, his conviction, his hope, and his perseverance were unlike most before him, and most after him, with the inspired, God given desire to make the world a better place for everyone, including blacks. His vision was not just the result of respect and reliance by his people, it was divinely inspired so that his passion, his hope emerged and blossomed before millions, many of whom were not familiar with him, his history, or his prominence and reputation. He was possessed of those rare qualities, and that rare talent, of the ability to inspire others to believe in themselves, and the world, that they had the dignity to alter their own dynamics, the manner in which they lived, and in the manner in which they were treated by others. As an evangelist, he was superb. For that, like Jesus, and many other prophets who have been threatening to the status quo, his ability to show others the way to self respect and to peace were certainly the force of why his life was taken so early, and so brutally. He was more than a leader; he was a messiah for the many black people who had waited so long for one to lead them out of the psychological bondage which was still very real to them. He positioned himself to show the way, and how to do it in the least offensive manner possible, by non-violence. He was a pillar of strength that even whites unfamiliar with him understood the necessity of yielding to God's will, instinctively knowing that all men were equal, and that all needed the recognition of being equal. Indeed, whites were aware of their obligation under the Constitution to recognize that equality but felt no compulsion to expect it of themselves until Martin forced them to face the truth they had so long avoided. Not only did he demand of blacks the energy and commitment to themselves, he demanded the energy and commitment of whites to respect themselves by being brave enough to help resolve the problem that had long festered in American social reality. The timing was right; the message was right, and Martin was right. He allowed none out of God's boat and helped everyone see that upon that ship, we were all afloat upon the ocean of humanity, and would indeed survive or perish. That message remains very much a part of his legacy, and today's reality although we face other issues as well, and the issues are now broader than ever. No one on earth has the option to say no to God and expect that it will be of no consequence to the world. He was the most remarkable of men that America has ever produced guided by his own devine light within as a beacon of humanity for all to follow.

More than a cuddly icon.......2003-08-12

Let me get first vent about the frustrating parts of this book before I get to the good stuff. First, at 229 pages of text, this was a rather short book, made shorter by Hansen's annoying habit of repeating important stretches of speeches. Second, the chapter analyzing the various drafts of the speech is probably better suited to a scholarly dissection of the speech than to a popular book. As was the chapter describing King's preaching style. And I got tired of ascribing every change in the speech to MLK's "genius". The man was exhausted, under threat and working on the run. Surely some of his decisions could have gone differently?

But minor grumpiness aside, I found this book hard to put down. The description of the organization for the August 1963 March on Washington was fascinating in its details about the people who attended it. One got the impression that the day was pretty disorganized, with the crowd making decisions on its own about when to start marching. Hansen also did a nice job of showing the internal disharmonies among groups within "the movement," as well as hinting that MLK's leadership done to him rather than pursued by him -- less because of his ability to manage and lead than because of his philosophical sophistication, personal courage, stamina and eloquence. That King comes across as a preacher and a prophet (as opposed to a great organizer) does him no disservice, but actually helps to humanize him and make the Civil Rights movement more real. Hansen did a nice job handling the post-1963 life of the speech. He is honest about the impatience that some blacks felt about the 'dreaminess' of the speech, especially as the movement's gains stalled and the violence continued. Hansen nicely captures the slightly radioactive nature of the speech among national politicians (many of whom were wary of King's alleged Communist sympathies) in the years before King's death and the cloyingly hagiographic tributes about King and the speech after 1968.

Hansen shows how King's memory has been sanitized and rendered harmless by linking him exclusively with the "I Have a Dream" speech. In opposing the Jim Crow laws, a main (but not the only) point of the speech, King targeted a system that was abhorrent to Northern whites and a source of shame to many in the South. Getting rid of it was the relatively easy matter of making the abuses public. But King's next targets proved more difficult -- the hard work of eliminating more subtle forms of racism from American hearts on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. King's premature death allowed Americans to accept him as a national martyr and prophet, but ironically delayed the more difficult soul-searching about America's war plans in Vietnam, its endemic racism and the blind economic violence perpetrated against the poor and powerless.

"I have a dream" - more than just a speech.......2003-08-07

I read "The Dream" in one sitting this weekend. The book vividly recaptures the spirit of the time during which Rev. King developed and delivered this inspiring and world-changing speech. At first I was afraid that the author's decomposition of the speech would diminish the power and effectiveness of the speech. On the contrary, his deep exploration into the speech itself and the events leading up to that day, together with fresh perspectives on the moment itself and the years following its delivery enhanced my admiration for both the speech and Rev. King. The author's inescapable conclusion is that there was much, much more at work than a man delivering a televised speech to a supportive crowd. This singular moment in Rev. King's life was the catalyst for much of the advancement that we all benefit from today. Yet this same event is also being used by some to impede further progress in the complete fulfillment of The Dream. This is a book I can wholeheartedly recommend for anyone who wants to learn about the history of that day and its subsequent impact over the next 40 years. It will also be of particular relevance to those with an interest in public speaking.

King of the Dream.......2003-07-17

I've listened to King's famous speech dozens of times and read a number of books on King, but it wasn't until reading Hansen's captivating description and analysis of the speech that I realized how little I knew about this seminal event in American history. This book is unusual in that it is both hugely readable and phenomenally informative and insightful.

The 1963 March on Washington: Speeches and Songs for Civil Rights (Miller, Jake, Library of the Civil Rights Movement.)

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The 1963 March on Washington: Speeches and Songs for Civil Rights (Miller, Jake, Library of the Civil Rights Movement.)
Jake Miller
Manufacturer: PowerKids Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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The Selma Campaign, 1963-1965: The Decisive Battle of the Civil Rights Movement

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Outstanding scholarship
This historian appreciates the work done!

The Selma Campaign, 1963-1965: The Decisive Battle of the Civil Rights Movement

Manufacturer: Majority Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Civil Rights & Liberties | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0912469447

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding scholarship.......2007-06-13

The author, United States Air Force Colonel Wally G. Vaughn, is an outstanding researcher, scholar, historian and writer. Colonel Vaughn has pieced together the missing links in important Civil Rights quests of the early 1950's and 1960's. His first hand accounts of the Selma campaign, has produced critical testimony to the struggle for equal rights worldwide. Colonel Vaughn and his co-author have put together a genius work!

This historian appreciates the work done!.......2007-03-02

An excellent and necessary documentation of a neglected segment of history.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington (All Aboard Reading)

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GREAT BOOK
Excellent Look and Feel to the book

Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington (All Aboard Reading)
Stephen Marchesi
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0448424215
Release Date: 2000-12-04

Book Description

On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people came to the nation's capital to speak out against segregation and to demand equal rights for everyone and to hear Martin Luther King, Jr. This book captures the spirit of this landmark day and brings Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech to vivid life.

Customer Reviews:

GREAT BOOK.......2007-06-09

I am a second grade teacher. I use this book every year. I use it around his birthday, during Black History Month, and during our Language Arts unit on Courage. I love the part, and photograph, about the man that rollerskated from Chicago to see Dr. King. I think it protrays how important Dr. King was to people around the nation. This year I did somthing special. I work in Juvenile Hall with 15-16 year old males. Before I showed them the video of the speech, I had reveiwed some books about him, but I read this one aloud to them. It is a simple book that has a powerful message. The combination of drawings and photographs bring together this message.

Excellent Look and Feel to the book.......2006-01-25

I recently stumbled onto this book at a public library and I have to say I'm very impressed. Martin Luther King and the March on Washington is an excellent work that moves at a good pace for readers of any age. Going to the March on Washington to see King speak must have been a life-changing event that would positively impact anyone who attended. However, for those of us who were not there, or are too young to have been able to go, we are fortunate enough to feel like we are able to experience the magnitude of the event through the books pacing and sense of history. The author places us right in the moment and you can't help but feel like you are on the steps of the mall in Washington, surrounded by scores of people watching a critical moment in American history.

Like a Mighty Stream: The March on Washington August 28,1963

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It is like being there!
Enlighteninig
Tell all the children this story!

Like a Mighty Stream: The March on Washington August 28,1963
Patrik Henry Bass
Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Civil Rights & Liberties | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Human Rights | Constitutional Law | Law | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0762416963

Book Description

The March on Washington, one of the most significant public events of the 20th century, is remembered in an amazing new paperback that details this defining moment of the civil rights movement. On August 28, 1963, people from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and religions came together to support a national civil rights initiative. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s stirring delivery of his historic "I have a dream" speech signaled a turning point in United States history for a generation, a nation, and the world. Now, acclaimed journalist and author Patrik Henry Bass weaves eyewitness accounts, photographs, reporting, and observation into a stirring mosaic of one of the most memorable events in our recent past.

Customer Reviews:

It is like being there!.......2004-08-26

I laughed, I cried , I could not put this book down. If you think you know about this part of American History read this book. You will find out just how little you do know. The march on Washington was so much more than the few minutes of the "I have a Dream" speech we all remember. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to experience what the thousands of people who attended the march experienced. This should be required reading.

Enlighteninig.......2002-11-19

Like a Mighty Stream is not merely a book about the greatest march on Washington. It is a portal; a literary doorway into the not so distance past using the detailed accounts of actual march participants. The author Patrik Henry Bass, with his fluid style and well researched writing, details a time when we as African-Americans were denied the most basic freedoms and decisions, such as where to live, what schools to attend or what jobs we could hold. His writing evokes the reader to remember our present day lifestyles and freedoms were bought with a price. And the emotionally stirring accounts of the marchers invoke us to make sure the present civil rights ledger is not owing. A truly great read!

Tell all the children this story!.......2002-11-17

Like A Mighty Stream is amazing! I was surprised how Bass makes you feel as if you are one of the marchers going to Washington, D.C. for the March. He really takes you there. I was leery at first when I saw this book in a magazine. I thought, "Oh no. Not another back in the day book." This is a historical event that we all should know about, and not just during Dr. King's holiday, Black History Month, and an anniversary. This was one of the most important events of the 20th century, and so few people know about it. Bass makes the book very relevant with the remembrances of people who attended the March, and he offers their insightful comments on how far we've come as a nation, and how much further we have to go. The book is fast-paced, funny, and filled with facts. There were many historical anecdotes that I'd never heard of before. I highly recommend this book for parents who are interested in giving their children a view of history that isn't always shared in classrooms. This is a story of America at its best...we need to tell the children this story!

Average customer rating:

Wonderful book

March on Washington: August 28, 1963
Thomas Gentile
Manufacturer: New Day Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful book.......2000-03-27

This book is amazing. It provides detailed impressions on the march on Washington and shows you what happened through detailed text and great graphics. This is an absolutely stunning book and to say it is a must buy is an undertatement.

The 1963 Civil Rights March (Events That Shaped America)

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The 1963 Civil Rights March (Events That Shaped America)
Sabrina Crewe , and Scott Ingram
Manufacturer: Gareth Stevens Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0836834119

Average customer rating:

I have a dream too
The Best Ever and After.
I cry every time I read it
The Dream
A beautiful book for both children and adults

I Have a Dream
Martin Luther, Jr. King
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0062509470

Book Description

On August 28, 1963, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his most memorable and inspiring speech to a country divided by riots over racial injustice. With the words "I have a dream," King invoked his vision of a racially harmonious America, where "little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers." This elegant gift edition of Dr. King's unforgettable speech is the perfect way to share his powerful message of hope and compassion. Featuring the complete text and a foreword by King's daughter, the Reverend Bernice A. King, I Have a Dream presents a moving portrait of a visionary at the peak of his influence.

Customer Reviews:

I have a dream too.......2005-02-26

That one day 4 year olds will be able to actually read this book.
This book is not meant for kids aged 4-8. It is well beyond what they understand. Frankly , i don't even think a 4 year old can even read this. Nice pictures. But unfortunately , i don't enjoy buying a book for pictures. I can get pictures anywhere. I didn't need to purchase this book to get them. Anyway , don't buy this book unless you enjoy paying a high price for pictures. With regards to the age group. Unless you have a gifted 4 year old this book is a waste of time for him/her.

The Best Ever and After........2004-02-11

ý I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of creedý. That all men are created equalý. Most of you have probably heard of this speech from many of Martin Luther King Jr. books, and probably have heard the amazing story a million times. But hearing what his wife has to say about all of the changes and differences that he has done is like having a big serving of your favorite food. If you like poetry or bubble bursting stories youýll adore this book. She tells you a variety of things from sad, bad, and, exiting things. Also on top of all of that the pictures are wonderful and they tell a lot of what has to do with the passage. This book will lift you from your seat and youýll never know, because this book will take you away. I donýt care who you are but this book is for you so get it, its waiting!

This book was written by: Correta Scott King
The title was: I Have a Dream

I cry every time I read it.......2003-12-06

I used to read this to my kids when I was a children's librarian in an African-American school in Detroit, and they loved it. It has such amazing, beautiful pictures- you can't really understand their beauty until you see the book in front of you. And of course, the speech is incredibly moving. The book prints the full text of the speech, but since there isn't alot of writing on each page, and there is such beautiful artwork, even 4th graders sit in awe at what is read and shown to them.

The Dream.......2002-09-21

What better gift can a parent give a child than a vision of a free and just future. This beautiful book is the illustrated text of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's speech given in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963.

The text of King's inspirational speech is illustrated by 14 African American artists/illustrators. Each illustration is attractive and deftly illustrates points in Dr. King's speech. Any of the illustrations could well serve as pictures for someone's wall. Every illustration is noteworthy and inspirational. I love the cover illustration by Leo and Diane Dillon. Other illustrations that I am moved by include You Have Been the Veterans of Creative Suffering by Tom Feelings and The Table of Brotherhood by James E. Ransome.

This book would serve well for a method to introduce children to Martin Luther King. Whether as a teacher or parent you choose to read the whole text of the speech or discuss King's life and his importance in American history, may depend on the age of the child. While the recommended ages for reading are 4 to 8, a four year old may not understand the message. Certainly, this book would serve as a tool for older children or even adults to get to know King and his message.

I think that every American should read the text of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I have a dream speech. It is as deeply meaningful and powerful today as it was in 1963. What better way to preserve the memory of Martin Luther King's speech than owning a copy of this book either for your children or yourself. This is a truly beautiful book which would be a great and lasting addition to a children's library.

A beautiful book for both children and adults.......2000-11-08

Don't be fooled by the fact that this is marketed as a children's book: "I Have a Dream" will appeal to readers of all ages. In this book the full text of Martin Luther King's famous speech is accompanied by 14 superb works, most of them in full color, by 15 different artists.

The book contains a thoughtful forward by Coretta Scott King and a brief but informative biographical supplement about Dr. King himself. A magnificent black-and-white photographic portrait of Dr. King in his oratorical mode serves as an effective complement to the rest of the book's illustrations. Also noteworthy are the final pages of the book, in which the artists briefly share their personal thoughts about Dr. King's legacy and about their contributions to the book.

The power of Dr. King's speech is greatly enhanced by the beautiful artwork of this book. The pictures encompass many different artistic styles and techniques. Each one is a masterpiece which invites the reader to return and reflect upon it.

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