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Ralph Abernathy

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down: An Autobiography Paperback – Unabridged, April 1, 2010

by Ralph David Abernathy (Author)

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Originally published in 1989, this beautifully written autobiography of the Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy—Martin Luther King Jr.'s partner and eventual successor—not only tells his own story but also expounds on the leaders he knew intimately, including King, Jesse Jackson, Andrew Young, and Lyndon Johnson, among others. Revealing the planning that went into major protests and the negotiations that brought them to a close, Abernathy chronicles a movement, recalling the bitter defeats they faced, the misery and deaths they suffered. Amidst these struggles, though, he celebrates the victories that integrated communities, gave economic and political power to the disenfranchised, and brought hope to people who had not dreamed of it. Throughout, Abernathy's close relationship with King is central to the story—and to the civil rights movement. In 1956, when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, it was Abernathy who enlisted King to join the protest. Together, they led the landmark bus boycott for 381 days, during which Abernathy’s house was bombed and his church dynamited. From there, the two helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and they were jailed together more than 40 times. Their protests and marches took them all over the South—Selma, Albany, Birmingham—and to Washington and Chicago as well. An unsung hero of his era, Abernathy's inspiring memoir ultimately shows how their victories, and even their setbacks, led to social and legislative changes across the entire country.

Print length

672 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Lawrence Hill Books
Publication date

April 1, 2010
Dimensions

6 x 1.4 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1569762791
ISBN-13

978-1569762790
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Colorful details bring alive the history of the civil rights era. . . . Abernathy’s storytelling is gripping, even moving.” --New York Times

"An informed journey through three decades of the civil rights movement, by one of its major activists." —Kirkus Reviews

"Inspirational and deeply moving . . . at once down-to-earth and eloquent . . . Reading this engrossing, powerful memoir-as-history will force white Americans to confront the legacy of racism." —Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Ralph David Abernathy was an American civil rights leader and Martin Luther King Jr.'s closest friend and associate. Following King's assassination, Abernathy took up the leadership of the SCLC's Poor People's Campaign and led the march on Washington in May 1968.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lawrence Hill Books; Unabridged edition (April 1, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 672 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1569762791
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1569762790
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.05 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.4 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,477,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,557 in Civil Rights & Liberties (Books)
- #6,148 in Black & African American Biographies
- #20,015 in United States Biographies

Customer Reviews:
103 ratings

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5 star		86%
4 star		10%
3 star		2%
2 star		1%
1 star		2%

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Jackson Hall

Powerful. More information than you may want.

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2020

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This book is writing by a backstabbing traitor. He waits until his so called close friend is murdered and then exposes secrets that a real friend would have taken to the grave. Great insight but shows a horrible lack of character.

6 people found this helpful

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Shantel

Excellent read.....once you get a few chapters in

Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2019

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Overall, this a a very good book. And the Walls Came Tumbling Down chronicles the civil rights movement in the MLK area in depth and with clarity that any student of history can appreciate. Rev. Abernathy being one of the lesser known and less celebrated figures of the movement gives an account of the time period from a very unique perspective: the confidant, BFF, and right hand man to MLK. Rev. Abernathy provides a complete retelling including the battles with southern towns and cities that were lost. He pulls very few punches, particularly when it comes to Rev. Jesse Jackson - He lets us readers know just how much of a POS Rev. Jackson really is and does so with all of the politeness and respectability any self respecting southerner can muster. Certainly worth reading!

8 people found this helpful

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Gina M. Harris

Truly great book

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2015

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I am such a fangirl for this book it is almost embarrassing. There are two particular ways in which it works for me.

One is the voice of the author. Abernathy writes with a rich warmth, and humor for all the seriousness, and is very personable.

In addition, the way he sets out the events of the Civil Rights movement is so clear. The various events are familiar, but he sets them in a context where you understand how some things led to others, and why things happened the way they did. I have studied these events, but I understand them better now.

This is not to say that there are no weaknesses. The focus of the main body of the book starts to wander as we reach the epilogue, catching things up on what happened to him personally after the movement has ended, but it is natural that it would do so. I can also see how some would feel that he takes too much credit for his part, as he and King worked very closely together, despite King being the much more public face. However the account takes nothing away from King's place, and you can easily see the devotion Abernathy felt for King, and his grief at the loss. I would recommend this book to anyone.

9 people found this helpful

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Flo Williams

Read about the Civil Rights era from someone who was in the room where it happened.

Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2021

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I knew I was not told the truth about the Civil Rights era, growing up. I was in a position to ask the author, Ralph Abernathy--the right hand man to MLK, to come to my university for a week in Feb. 1980, and he gladly came. Every lecture he used history as a device to preach the gospel. His autobiography is a longer version of those lectures. He also explains near the end how Reagan made him promises for his endorsement, but was used ultimately.

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James M. Foard

Biography of a great man.

Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2020

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Raiph David Abernathy, right hand man to MLK. Biography of a truly great man. He was there through it all. We need a black leader of his stature today. Unfortunately men like him are few and far between.

2 people found this helpful

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silver dollar

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2013

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And the Walls Came Tumbling Down tells of Abernathy's private as well as public life - the grandson of a slave and the tenth child born to a strict farming man, Abernathy never left Alabama or experienced racism until he joined the desegregated and racist United States Army during World War II. At the end of the war, the black troops returned to an America that was as segregated as the one they had left. Some of the veterans became leaders in the fight for desegregation, both military and civilian. Ralph David Abernathy was one of those troops. Within their own community, they offered pride and encouragement, and to the white community, they offered an example of the equality of men.

The Army was not desegregated until April of 1948. Unfortunately, the rest of the nation would take much longer.

The Honorable Ralph David Abernathy tells the truth about the dishonorable Martin Luther King in this excellent Autobiography. Some will accuse me of not reading the book or owning the book. I actually have two copies of the book. One I purchased from a library who sold the book for fifty cents. i was dismayed to see the library discarding the book. it is a piece of historical work much needed in today's hate laced civil rights atmosphere we live in.

18 people found this helpful

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montcowboy

Outstanding Glimpse!

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2018

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Nobody knew Michael King like Dr. Abernathy and after reading this book you will too.

4 people found this helpful

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Victoria M. Wall

The Most Powerful Civil Rights Collection of stories

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2004

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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 as it was being promoted, to interview Abernathy, for the local TV station in Detroit (WB). We received the book a few days before promotion/interview was scheduled. I started to brief "And the Walls Came Tumbling Down" - I could not put it down until I finished it in 36 hours. There was outrage in many communities over this book. Abernathy canceled his tour to Detroit, then cancelled totally. Soon died of a heart attack. I was greatly saddened this book did not become embraced more fully by the African American community. I have gifted this book a few times, and will continue to share with those with enough character to read 600+ pages! Mr. Abernathy's writing is a powerful diamond on the crown of struggles for goodness. Every day is a war of good against evil, 'And the Walls Came Tumbling Down' inspires those on front lines of goodness overcoming evil. Ralph David Abernathy was truly a holy man for the 20th century.

29 people found this helpful

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KD

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2016

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Excellent quality and fast delivery!

SandraM

Extrem wichtig

Reviewed in Germany on October 16, 2015

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Ein Buch, das gelesen werden sollte. Ralph Abernathys Autobiographie ist mehr als nur ein Abriss über sein unglaublich dichtes Leben: Es ist gelebte Geschichte eines Bürgerrechtlers, dessen Bedeutung neben der großen charismatischen Gestalt Martin Luther Kings nicht recht wahrgenommen wurde. Zu unrecht, wie dieses Buch zeigt. Absolute Kaufempfehlung.

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