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cecmillen's review against another edition
5.0
I love James H Cone. This should be mandatory reading for every high schooler in this country.
jonathanfreirich's review against another edition
5.0
A truly seminal work. Still current and essential.
leonharris's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a relevant as ever. Cone's theological examination is a must read.
Cone does a great work of explaining the importance of these two giants. He doesn't over romanticize Malcom X and Martin Luther King, Jr., yet he elevates both figures to an appropriate place in the history of the world. Read it.
Cone does a great work of explaining the importance of these two giants. He doesn't over romanticize Malcom X and Martin Luther King, Jr., yet he elevates both figures to an appropriate place in the history of the world. Read it.
poetictina's review against another edition
5.0
WOW!
There’s so much I want to say about this book.
First, I am so glad to have been recommended the book after finishing The Autobiography of Malcolm X. It certainly worked perfectly in that order. And it kept me on my toes as after I finished X’s biography, I felt like “what now?” Now that I’m done with this book, I feel complete but I’m sad that I finished the book lol.
Just like when I read X’s biography, I felt some kind of way about his earlier thought process. This book not only explores that, but in comparison to King’s thought process, it completes it.
I learned so much about the both of them. My opinion on X fluctuated at times, but overall, I enjoy both King and X respectively. Learning that X wanted to help King in his later years after trashing him, was quite the turn around, but it gave me a more positive view on him. Not to say that my views on X are totally negative, but this book paints a wonderful comparison to both King and X.
I need to say that I really love that this book explored how people see Malcolm and Martin after their deaths. We all know Martin is more revered by the American people of all races, but when it comes to Malcolm, he’s either forgotten or just seen as a black supremacist. Which is another reason why I enjoyed this book, it gave me a Birds Eye view on both and how they regarded each other, because that’s something I’ve never really thought of
I could say more, but I’ve already said enough!
10/10 recommend.
There’s so much I want to say about this book.
First, I am so glad to have been recommended the book after finishing The Autobiography of Malcolm X. It certainly worked perfectly in that order. And it kept me on my toes as after I finished X’s biography, I felt like “what now?” Now that I’m done with this book, I feel complete but I’m sad that I finished the book lol.
Just like when I read X’s biography, I felt some kind of way about his earlier thought process. This book not only explores that, but in comparison to King’s thought process, it completes it.
I learned so much about the both of them. My opinion on X fluctuated at times, but overall, I enjoy both King and X respectively. Learning that X wanted to help King in his later years after trashing him, was quite the turn around, but it gave me a more positive view on him. Not to say that my views on X are totally negative, but this book paints a wonderful comparison to both King and X.
I need to say that I really love that this book explored how people see Malcolm and Martin after their deaths. We all know Martin is more revered by the American people of all races, but when it comes to Malcolm, he’s either forgotten or just seen as a black supremacist. Which is another reason why I enjoyed this book, it gave me a Birds Eye view on both and how they regarded each other, because that’s something I’ve never really thought of
I could say more, but I’ve already said enough!
10/10 recommend.
jollyquaker's review against another edition
4.0
This book skilfully demonstrates how King and Malcolm X complemented and corrected each other, and perhaps more significantly, offers an important insight into Cone's own theological development. This strikes me as a indispensable companion piece to Cone's theological masterpieces 'A Black Theology of Liberation' and 'God of the Oppressed'.
bentohbox's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
after an insane 97+ tabs/highlights in this book, I think I'm obligated (and happily so) to say that this is a masterful work of historical research, power-building analysis, and critical literature.
in the realm of nonfiction biographical works, Cone displays an incredible ability to merge historical narratives, world events, character development, and psychological analyses for both Martin and Malcolm in ways that are not only digestible, but also reflective. the focus on a combination of his topics' upbringings, philosophies, speeches, and progressions serve as powerful devices through which Cone displays contrasts, similarities, and criticisms. I would venture to say as well that this book is not just a great academic study, it's also very readable and accessible, owing to the writing style and overall structure of the book.
some reflections:
1. I think it's a true tragedy and disservice that Martin Luther King Jr. has been so flattened by the passage of time and political interests that weaponize snippets of him while ignoring the underlying philosophies and approaches he believed in. King not only stood for racial justice as he had to define it in the predominantly white South, but also became an avid anti-war and anti-poverty advocate in his later years in spite of pushback from his allies. similarly, I think it's a true tragedy and disservice to Malcolm X that he's at best forgotten, and at worst maligned, in the social consciousness because he, in his Northern upbringing, speaks to the modern era of de facto racism we see across this country. to understand that Malcolm also carried forward the roots of Black Power and Black Liberation (especially in the form of the Black Panthers) cannot be understated.
the most well-done, and impactful, component of this book remains the way Cone develops his narratives to the end result of demonstrating how Malcolm and Martin's philosophies/approaches overlapped later on in their lives. breaking the dichotomy that is often set before us about the two with undeniable evidence clarifies the transitions both were making at the times of their assassinations and the legacies/visions they have left for us to continue.
2. in reflecting on the challenges / barriers that both Martin and Malcolm faced in the 1960s, I find myself both appalled and in awe of how little and how much progress we've made. in many regards, it's clear that the racist and classist structures that informed M&M have contorted into new, arguably more destructive variations. wealth inequality, racial wealth gaps, maternal mortality, segregation, and much more continue to pervade without restraint and we, as a citizenry, allow ourselves to be lulled into a sense of personal, individual security by the comforts of modern life and our misplaced faith that Martin and Obama ended racism. there are plenty of passages throughout the book, especially in their speeches, that could have been given yesterday verbatim with the same meanings. in this way, the entire book serves as a reminder of how much more work remains to be done and how many of us are needed to make progress happen.
3. it's a tragedy of the modern era for me to truly believe that no equivalent to Malcolm and Martin will emerge in the face of so many various social, economic, and global disasters. seeing through Cone's narration the commanded of audiences and national attention both men held through philosophy, tactic, and strategy, I can find no parallels in our fragmented, inattentive current environment. that's not to say great work isn't being done, but the dissolution or defanging of most organized justice movements combined with the politicization of media and fragmentation of news sources make for a near-impossible path towards power-building as Martin and Malcolm accomplished it.
4. maybe in some ways that dispersion is for the best. but oftentimes, I think it is to the detriment of not only our futures, but also the vision both men had for America. it seems to me that we've collectively forgotten how to work together. instead of the local organizing, shoe-to-pavement strategies that Martin used and intellectual spars Malcolm engaged in, we live in an ecosystem where a majority of people care primarily for themselves, refuse to do the hard work, and cannot bear the considerations of intellectual dialogue or disagreement. instead, we force ourselves into our corners and lack the willpower or interest in coalition power-building and civic engagement. as a product (and catalyst), we end up mired in corporate greed, capitalist productivity, isolation, and the degradation of everything from education to social services to faith in our own ability to affect change. there is no one Martin or Malcolm today who can guide us out of our tragic myriads. it follows that the book is perhaps a reminder that, as Cone emphasizes, there is no one coming to save us except for ourselves.
I would encourage reading this with an open mind and a lens on the world as we see it today. history has passed but there remains much to be learned from and inspired by works like Cone's who show us the paths that have been forged for us to carry onwards.
in the realm of nonfiction biographical works, Cone displays an incredible ability to merge historical narratives, world events, character development, and psychological analyses for both Martin and Malcolm in ways that are not only digestible, but also reflective. the focus on a combination of his topics' upbringings, philosophies, speeches, and progressions serve as powerful devices through which Cone displays contrasts, similarities, and criticisms. I would venture to say as well that this book is not just a great academic study, it's also very readable and accessible, owing to the writing style and overall structure of the book.
some reflections:
1. I think it's a true tragedy and disservice that Martin Luther King Jr. has been so flattened by the passage of time and political interests that weaponize snippets of him while ignoring the underlying philosophies and approaches he believed in. King not only stood for racial justice as he had to define it in the predominantly white South, but also became an avid anti-war and anti-poverty advocate in his later years in spite of pushback from his allies. similarly, I think it's a true tragedy and disservice to Malcolm X that he's at best forgotten, and at worst maligned, in the social consciousness because he, in his Northern upbringing, speaks to the modern era of de facto racism we see across this country. to understand that Malcolm also carried forward the roots of Black Power and Black Liberation (especially in the form of the Black Panthers) cannot be understated.
the most well-done, and impactful, component of this book remains the way Cone develops his narratives to the end result of demonstrating how Malcolm and Martin's philosophies/approaches overlapped later on in their lives. breaking the dichotomy that is often set before us about the two with undeniable evidence clarifies the transitions both were making at the times of their assassinations and the legacies/visions they have left for us to continue.
2. in reflecting on the challenges / barriers that both Martin and Malcolm faced in the 1960s, I find myself both appalled and in awe of how little and how much progress we've made. in many regards, it's clear that the racist and classist structures that informed M&M have contorted into new, arguably more destructive variations. wealth inequality, racial wealth gaps, maternal mortality, segregation, and much more continue to pervade without restraint and we, as a citizenry, allow ourselves to be lulled into a sense of personal, individual security by the comforts of modern life and our misplaced faith that Martin and Obama ended racism. there are plenty of passages throughout the book, especially in their speeches, that could have been given yesterday verbatim with the same meanings. in this way, the entire book serves as a reminder of how much more work remains to be done and how many of us are needed to make progress happen.
3. it's a tragedy of the modern era for me to truly believe that no equivalent to Malcolm and Martin will emerge in the face of so many various social, economic, and global disasters. seeing through Cone's narration the commanded of audiences and national attention both men held through philosophy, tactic, and strategy, I can find no parallels in our fragmented, inattentive current environment. that's not to say great work isn't being done, but the dissolution or defanging of most organized justice movements combined with the politicization of media and fragmentation of news sources make for a near-impossible path towards power-building as Martin and Malcolm accomplished it.
4. maybe in some ways that dispersion is for the best. but oftentimes, I think it is to the detriment of not only our futures, but also the vision both men had for America. it seems to me that we've collectively forgotten how to work together. instead of the local organizing, shoe-to-pavement strategies that Martin used and intellectual spars Malcolm engaged in, we live in an ecosystem where a majority of people care primarily for themselves, refuse to do the hard work, and cannot bear the considerations of intellectual dialogue or disagreement. instead, we force ourselves into our corners and lack the willpower or interest in coalition power-building and civic engagement. as a product (and catalyst), we end up mired in corporate greed, capitalist productivity, isolation, and the degradation of everything from education to social services to faith in our own ability to affect change. there is no one Martin or Malcolm today who can guide us out of our tragic myriads. it follows that the book is perhaps a reminder that, as Cone emphasizes, there is no one coming to save us except for ourselves.
I would encourage reading this with an open mind and a lens on the world as we see it today. history has passed but there remains much to be learned from and inspired by works like Cone's who show us the paths that have been forged for us to carry onwards.
jedwardsusc's review against another edition
5.0
This is a stunningly powerful book. My only regret is that I didn't start reading James Cone sooner.