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Where do we go from here: Chaos or community?

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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.

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.

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.

This book should be a classic! The Civil Rights phase, writes King, was easier than transforming the movement into a Human Rights movement that modest support in wider America. He rightly concludes the riots of 1966 and thereafter were "uprisings" against the awful reality that African American equality must a go along with adequate wages, quality schools, and decent houses. All initial aims of the Johnson administration.

King's last book was his most significant. He declares equality for African Americans was impossible without meaningful creation of jobs, quality education, and a radical change of the forms and vigorous confrontation with and the elimination over time of American racism. King asserts that capitalism itself would have be hugely revamped so it is more inclusive, and, lastly, American militarism is not only brutal to American youth, but has slaughtered millions of human beings in Asia, and now elsewhere, while reroutes billions of dollars from essential programs that could battle U.S. poverty. Poverty is an American way of life, including not only African Americans, but other minorities, workers, and southerners.

Sooner or later, Kings, writes, American must realize that there is something terribly wrong with our economic system which permits millions of poor to exist in a land brimming with wealth.

Songs of Free Men/ A Paul Robeson Recital

This book is simply amazing. Even though it was written 45 years ago, it has a terrific insight into the problems of America. Even though I am not Christian, I find that Martin Luther's ideas really apply to all people, no matter who they are. Its a pity that more Americans don't read his books. Anyhow, if you can find it, I highly recommend that you read it! :)

As a reader one often searches for a book that will inspire, and yet, teach. Martin Luther King has done just this. His prose educates and inspires passion. As an avatar for civil rights Martin Luther King Jr's story is as compelling as any figure in history-white or black. And if any reader wants to get a true measure of this brilliant man, look not just to the words of others, but to the words of the man himself. Allow Martin to transport you with his pithy, unpretentious prose to an area of higher consciousness.

Truly remarkable. A worthy read for any generation and for any interest-whether your interest be in history or in education, in a lesson in passion or well-written prose. Martin's words asks us the difficult questions that we are so afraid to ask ourselves. A reading of this Classic treatise can certainly raise one above the chaos that still exists and inspire us to build a community of human beings.

A read worthy of a 9 for content and for force.

A must read for those who truly wish to understand the principles Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. earnestly believed and fought for. This book illustrates both his intellectual gravitas as well as his resolute sincerity in addressing the economic and social oppression still afflicting America to this very day. Also, it calls out the false dichotomy between the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X especially on matters of economics and civil liberties! Read this book and then read Alex Haley's "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" if you have any doubt.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words truly touched my soul. They opened doors in my mind and showed me new paths to take in life. This book helped me see certain truths about the world that henceforth had been beyond my toungue to describe. Dr. King was a most beautiful writer. His work is both well thought out and well proven by use of historical and statistical evidence. I highly recommend reading this book.

Very inspiring book and written in such a way that it drags you in and you want to go on and on reading. Very good example of nonviolent resistance movement.

This is an amazing and important book, out of print for much too long. It is an impassioned and urgent call to heal. Because it was written in the 1960's it is really two books. Part of the book is of important and historical interest. This involves Dr. King's take on what was going on in the country.

But the other part of the book is Dr. King's rallying cry of "Where do we go from here?" There are so many thoughts I could lift from the book to share. But given the space, here are just a few:

"Together we must learn to live as brothers or together we will be forced to perish as fools." Dr. King goes on to add, "The question now is, do we have the morality and courage required to live together as brothers and not be afraid?"

Dr. King was clearly seeing our drift towards chaos, and just as clearly was warning us that we must move towards community or perish. This is an even more urgent book today as it was in the 1960's. It is a book not only to read but refer back to, over an over. My sermon yesterday was on our propensity to divide ourselves into "us" and "them." Dr. King was a great believer in "us" - and far more eloquent than I can ever hope to be on the subject. Dr. King's point was that if we cannot find our common humanity, we must and will perish. In the end, there is no "them." There is only "us."