Where do we go from here: Chaos or community? [Hardcover]

Martin Luther King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1967

In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., isolated himself from the demands of the civil rights movement, rented a house in Jamaica with no telephone, and labored over his final manuscript. In this prophetic work, which has been unavailable for more than ten years, he lays out his thoughts, plans, and dreams for America's future, including the need for better jobs, higher wages, decent housing, and quality education. With a universal message of hope that continues to resonate, King demanded an end to global suffering, asserting that humankind-for the first time-has the resources and technology to eradicate poverty.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of the greatest organic intellectuals in American history. His unique ability to connect the life of the mind to the struggle for freedom is legendary, and in this book-his last grand expression of his vision-he put forward his most prophetic challenge to powers that be and his most progressive program for the wretched of the earth.—Cornel West, professor of religion and African American studies, Princeton University, and author of Race Matters --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968), Nobel Peace Prize laureate and architect of the nonviolent civil rights movement, was among the twentieth century’s most influential figures. One of the greatest orators in U.S. history, King is the author of several books, including Stride Toward Freedom. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968.

Coretta Scott King (1927–2006), the wife of Martin Luther King, Jr., was an American author and human rights activist.

Civil rights activist Vincent Harding was a friend and colleague of King and worked with Coretta Scott King to establish the King Center in Atlanta, serving as its first director. A distinguished theologian and historian, he is the award-winning author of several books.

Clayborne Carson is the general editorial advisor to the King Legacy; he is the founding director of the King Research and Education Institute at Stanford University.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 209 pages
• Publisher: Harper & Row; 1st edition (1967)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0006BQMQ4
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,197,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), Nobel Peace Prize laureate and architect of the nonviolent civil rights movement, was among the twentieth century's most influential figures. One of the greatest orators in U.S. history, King also authored several books, including Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, and Why We Can't Wait. His speeches, sermons, and writings are inspirational and timeless. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Civil Rights 1967, July 28, 2002

By 

Gregory Adams (Moorestown, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (Paperback)

Dr. King's penultimate book provides a snapshot of where we were in 1967. Two turning points had been reached.

First, his program of nonviolent direct action was clearly winning the struggle against old fashioned southern segregation, and Dr. King was looking toward the next step. He believed that the next logical step toward setting people free was a massive government program addressing the problem of poverty.

Second, within the civil rights movement, a "black power" mentality was gaining prominence. Some argued that whites should be excluded from the civil rights movement, and that nonviolence should be abandoned. Dr. King insisted that this approach would only balkanize our country, having disastrous effect, especially on blacks.

As with his other books, the author's brilliance, his scholarship, and his Christian love all come through.

It would be best to read "Stride Toward Freedom" and "Why We Can't Wait" before reading this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth Straight From The Source, December 11, 2001

By 

"trabian" (Silver Spring, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (Paperback)

The beauty and depth of this book is that it tells us about human political relations today even though it was written over 30 years ago!

I also like that it is Martin Luther King in his own words (not some opportunistic interpretation of his ideas) on subjects like:
Black Power
Affirmative Action
Poverty
Love

It also makes it painfully clear the Martin Luther King Jr. was far more extraordinary in his leadership than we give him credit for being today. He thought deeply, connected the dots, and put his life behind his ideals. This is a must read for anyone who hasn't already connected the dots between justice, religion and love.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If only people had listened!, July 10, 2001

By 

Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (Paperback)

This book is an underrated classic and it's truly a damn shame that it's no longer in print! Essentially, this is Martin Luther King's blueprint plans for a post Civil-Rights movement America. He speaks of multiethnic coalitions, against the less positive aspects of Black nationalism, and he speaks of ways to "turn the streetcorners of the ghettos from dens of iniquity to miniature schools." Much of what he says here is quite practical also. Read this and you will be happy that, although Dr. King is no longer with us, his message has been preserved.