Customer Reviews

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down: An Autobiography

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When this first came out around 1990, stupid rumors abounded that Dr.King's right-hand-man and surrogate brother had written a sleazy text about Dr. King's sex life. This bunch of hogwash and the cruel responses by people who beleived the hype drove Dr. Abernathy to his grave! This is actually a very good book filled with interesting anecdotes about Dr. Abernathy's years as a soldier in the Civil Rights movement. However, he pulls no punches regarding the infighting that destroyed what was left of the movement after Dr. King's death. This is an important historical memoir by one who was certainly there.

Ralph Abernathy wrote his life's story warts and all. He also spoke honestly about his dear friend, Doc and his private life. Doc was Martin Luther King Jr. and a lot of people reacted almost violently to the revelations in the book. Abernathy was called a traitor, a Judas and an Uncle Tom. He was also accused of being senile or insane with jealousy of Dr. King's memory. Sadly, with all the name calling people forgot or ignored the fact that it's a good autobiography and a valuable edition to the historical record of the Civil Rights movement.

I'm so glad I read this book, but am sorry it took me more than a decade to learn that Dr. Abernathy hadn't "sold out" Martin Luther King as was reported in the media when this book was first published. Unfortunately, Dr. Abernathy died before he knew all of black America hadn't turned on him. He told a truthful story of a movement led by strong, yet very "human" men and women. None of us are without our weaknesses, but those weaknesses do not define the total of who we are. Just as Dr. Abernathy's depiction of the weaknesses in himself and in Dr. King don't define the whole tone of this book. I'm glad I read it, and I shared it with my mother who also read it from cover to cover with relish. I appreciate the MLK's and the Ralph David Abernathy's who made such a sacrifice so I could have the rights of every other human being living in the United States.

I have ever read- Ralph David Abernathy gave a beautiful window into the realities of America's struggles with racism. He and Martin Luther King's unique experiences all over America are scintillating. Having been raised by a military father all over America- a few places and cultures I had observed were in this book. Military housing was integrated 5 years before I was born, so my first experiences of obvious racism were when I was a young adult in civilain environments. I read this when it first came out, for the local TV station in Detroit (WB). At the time this book came out, I was to interview Mr. Abernathy. I started to brief "And the Walls Came Tumbling Down" - I could not put it down until I finished it in 36 hours. He canceled his tour to Detroit, and then died shortly after this book was published. I was very saddened this book did not become embraced more fully by the African American community- as Mr. Abernathy's writing is a powerful diamond on the crown of struggles for goodness. Ralph David Abernathy was truly a holy man for the 20th century.

I have enjoyed every six hundred and forty pages of this book. This book open my eyes and confirmed alot of things I knew and didn't know. Jesse Jackson, Bull Connor. I appreciated how Ralph showed how Martin was human and susceptible to temptation as anyone. In lieu of his position, I feel he shouldn't have been married. It didn't appear that Martin's family was a priority, but the love of his people and the non-violent cause was. Great Read and Highly Recommend.

(Hardback Version)
Ralph David Abernathy is the lesser known architect and protagonist of the Civil Rights movement of the 60's. Martin Luther King's right hand man and successor after King's death, Abernathy was at the front of all the civil right's battles and victories.

This is a thick book, some 620 pages. The book details all the civil rights battles of the 60's including Montgomery, Atlanta, Albany, Birmingham, Selma, Chicago and more. Going into each crusade for equal rights for blacks the policy was always none violence. In the face of overwhelming odds from local police forces with water canons, night sticks and dogs, the marchers were taught to kneel and pray and, to offer no resistance to arrest. If one march didn't work, their numbers would swell and they would march again. Amazing resolve.

The Jim Crow segregation laws that plagued the Southern States eventually started the movement in all earnest after the Rosa Parks incident on a Montgomery, AL bus. Though hers was not the first such incident, hers is the most remembered. Abernathy, deeply religious formed the Civil rights movement along with a very charismatic individual named Martin Luther King and, along with thinking alike, they both were willing to put themselves in danger both physically and institutionally to bring attention and affect change for America's black population.

Such a fantastic story of struggle and total devotion to human rights that, sadly, aren't repeated too often today. Each crusade brought a new strategy but, none violence was always paramount. As the years rolled on, new blood coming into the movement wanted to use violence but Abernathy and King held firm.

Abernathy details the day of King's assassination and later devotes a whole chapter to Martin Luther King, the man, his character and his life. More than once, King had prophecies of own death at the hands of people who hated him. Such prophecies made him physically ill with worry yet, he kept on.

Interest initially was propelled by vivid images of black people being hosed down with water canons, beaten with night sticks and having snarling attack dogs in their faces. This bought world attention, concern, support and funding from private sources that helped keep the movement alive. Sadly, the press, the country, the world lost interest in the struggle and the movement all but dissipated.

The book is very well written. The chapters are detailed and flow very well. Abernathy is smart and articulate and, you sense, a decent man.

It's great history and worthy of your time.

When this book first came out it was so trashed by the powers that be, that I decided I had to read it someday. I do not think the people trashing this book 20 years ago actually read it. There is little if anything about Dr. King's indiscretions, but the book is full of the struggle, doubt, setbacks and triumphs of the movement.

Anyone interested in the struggle for freedom, and what works and does not, should buy this book. Anyone interested in American history should read this well-written first hand account. When the do a movie on MLK, this book will be the guide. If the royalties go to the Abernathy family, it will be fitting for this book to someday become a national bestseller.

As a historian, nothing is more relished than a book written in the first person and historical events that one has lived through. Rev. Abernathy tells the story of what he saw and lived with his day's as Dr. King's best friend, right-hand man, and advisor. There are things our friends know about us that our familiy members don't and/or refuse to admit. If you are not scared of the truth, read this book. If you want to blindly walk around believing what others who weren't there have written, stay ignorant and don't read the book. Dr. King was not perfect, nor are we. However, the truth IS WHAT IT IS and does not need defending. Besides, everyman answers for his own sins and reading this book is no sin. This book was written to set the record straight, by a man who had no need for financial gains and was close to death. In the real world streets are not paved with gum drops and lollipops. If you want that, go to Disney World.

This book, fortunately, was everything I expected it to be. I couldn't put it down and learned many new things about the 'Movement'. It was a pleasure to learn just how human and humane were both Mr. Abernathy and Dr. King. Reading the book was like taking a college course. A very good course.

I am sorry it took me this long to read this book. I can understand why people close to the civil rights movement would not like it. I wouldn't want to be brought down from such a high cloud either after pulling the wool over people's eyes for so long but don't get me wrong I appricate the contributions of everyone who participated but they were just people not gods, not even Dr. King who I admire so much for his life sacrifice. It also verfies a lot of the things that Rev. Hosea Williams said for years! Dr. Abernathy did not deserve the attacks for the book and I hope he rest in peace knowing that my generation (over 40) who reaped most of the rewards of their stuggle appriciated his truthfulness. I recommend this book every chance I get.