By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
In this new age of artificial intelligence, social media and news that is no longer fact-checked for its veracity, there’s something to be said about sitting quietly with a good book.
As the nation and the world pause to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., some readers may want to know more about this iconic figure.
Are you interested in learning more about the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement? Do you agree with the adage, “reading is fundamental?”
Then you would be wise to visit the closest public library or go to your neighborhood bookstore for a short list of recently published books that showcase the power of words and contemplative reflection.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Love”
By Dr. Martin Luther King
This paperback, written by Dr. Martin Luther King and published by HarperOne, might best be described as a provocative compilation of King’s reflections on love and its transformative power.
In this book, readers will discover many of King’s insights on the integral role that love played in his ministry and in his belief that love served as a catalyst for positive change.
As King said, “I have also decided to stick with love for I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind’s problems.”
Not only is the book informative and insightful but it also includes an introduction to each section of the work that provides an historical context of each of King’s speeches, sermons and pieces of writing. Readers will receive a foretaste into the evolution of King’s ideas on the topic of love and hopefully better understand the circumstances in which the theme of love remained so essential to his personal beliefs and concerns.
“King: A Life (Young Adult Edition)”
By Jonathan Eig with Yohuru Williams and Michael G. Long
This hardcover book, written by Jonathan Eig with Yohuru Williams and Michael G. Long contributing as adapters, has been recognized on several platforms as the No. 1 New Release in Teen and Young Adult Social Activist Biographies.
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), this Pulitzer Prize–winning bestseller is now adapted for young adults and will undoubtedly become a standard among biographies. It sheds greater light on the life of one of the most famous leaders in the Civil Rights Movement.
While Dr. King has often been regarded in mythical terms, he was, in fact, a man – a student, activist, preacher, dreamer, father and husband who spent his formative years in Atlanta, Georgia’s historically Black neighborhood of Sweet Auburn. His ministry would take him to battle injustice in cities that included Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery, Alabama. Today, he remains one of the world’s most influential, if not controversial individuals of the 20th century.
The book, written specifically for young adults, includes new research into the life of a man who, despite his many talents, also struggled with the human frailties and moods of somber disappointment and setbacks that we all experience.
A paperback version of “King: A Life,” also written by Jonathan Eig, was released earlier this month for adults. It bears the distinction as being selected as the winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for biography.
“New Prize for These Eyes: The Rise of America’s Second Civil Rights Movement”
By Juan Williams
In this book, just released on Jan. 14, award-winning author Juan Williams examines this historic, new movement in the ongoing battle for civil rights and equality. Williams considers the movement’s emerging leaders and heroes, posits where the movement is headed and draws distinctions between the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century and the new movement that has emerged in the 21st century.
While Black activists during the 20th century, and their White allies, rallied behind demands for equal rights and the demise of racial segregation, today’s movement has moved from the courtroom to the social media platform. Unwilling to swallow longstanding systemic racism, police brutality and a resurgence in power from the far right, today’s young activists have reshaped the cultural landscape utilizing new tools and proposing alternative strategies along the way.
Williams not only offers an essential and concise summary of history but also challenges Americans to look forward, to become more active and to recognize that there are still many rivers to cross.