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gjones19's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible collection of Dr. King’s writings, speeches, sermons, and book excerpts. Digging into King’s works will transform you!
zmarshall839's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
dkrane's review against another edition
4.0
Repeats many of same ideas over speeches, but an awesome, powerful historical document of one of our brightest and best.
anxiousrage's review against another edition
5.0
i hadn't read 90% of these before. it's too bad that really the only thing most people have heard from King is his "I Have a Dream Speech", because although historically important, there are so many even better things that he wrote and spoke about.
especially good were many of the writings that he did near the end of his life. King did not shrink from deeply questioning capitalism, poverty, and the U.S. military's campaigns around the world. King's campaigns in these areas were just beginning to take off during the last few years of his life. i wonder what impact he could have had on poor people's movements and labor movements were he not killed so early in his life.
these speeches are important reading not just for people who want to get to know King's mind more thoroughly, but also for those of us who really need some inspiration as both the right and left continue to disappoint us. many of his writings are sadly relevant as we face many of the same social and political challenges today.
especially good were many of the writings that he did near the end of his life. King did not shrink from deeply questioning capitalism, poverty, and the U.S. military's campaigns around the world. King's campaigns in these areas were just beginning to take off during the last few years of his life. i wonder what impact he could have had on poor people's movements and labor movements were he not killed so early in his life.
these speeches are important reading not just for people who want to get to know King's mind more thoroughly, but also for those of us who really need some inspiration as both the right and left continue to disappoint us. many of his writings are sadly relevant as we face many of the same social and political challenges today.
brentfernandez's review against another edition
5.0
this is an incredible collection of speeches & writings. highly recommended!
mancolepig's review against another edition
5.0
You will not find a greater testament to Martin Luther King’s ideals of equality, justice, and peace than this tome of his writings and speeches. A Testament of Hope is the book I wish I had been required to read in school. Better late than never I suppose.
Read one speech or one section or every word. No matter how much of this book you read, you will get to know a man whose powers of persuasion and sense of morality are unmatched. Every line feels like a gut punch or a resounding call to action. Every conviction is delivered with the intelligence of a scholar and the thunderous might of a preacher. Martin Luther King was a radical who could ruthlessly and expertly criticize Jim Crow, segregation, white liberals, world leaders, the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, hell, even CAPITALISM while remaining a pillar of love and nonviolence. How could one man inspire such change in the world?
I can’t explain why, I can only provide some of his insights in his own words, many of which still apply to problems we see in our country today:
“It must be emphasized that nonviolent resistance is not a method for cowards; it does resist. If one uses this method because he is afraid or merely because he lacks the instruments of violence, he is not truly nonviolent. This is why Gandhi often said that if cowardice is the only alternative to violence, it is better to fight.” (17)
“There is more power in socially organized masses on the march than there is in guns of a few desperate men. Our enemies would prefer to deal with a small armed group rather than with a huge, unarmed but resolute mass of people. However it is necessary that the mass-action method be persistent and unyielding… never let them rest.” (33)
“Our Congress is determined not to stifle the initiative of the poor (thought they clamor for jobs) through welfare handouts. Handouts to the rich are given more sophisticated nomenclature such as parity, subsidies, and incentives to industry.” (71)
“From a purely moral point of view, an unjust law is one that is out of harmony with the moral law of the universe. More concretely, an unjust law is one in which the minority is compelled to observe a code that is not binding on the majority. An unjust law is one in which people are required to obey a code that they had no part in making because they were denied the right to vote.” (164)
“I’m concerned about justice. I’m concerned about brotherhood. I’m concerned about truth. And when one is concerned about that, he can never advocate violence. For through violence you may murder a murderer, but you can't murder murder. Through violence you may murder a liar, but you can't establish truth. Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can't murder hate through violence. Darkness cannot put out darkness; only light can do that.” (249)
“Frankly, I have never yet engaged in a direct action movement that was ‘well-timed,’ according to the timetable of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the words ‘Wait!’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’ We must come to see with the distinguished jurist of yesterday that ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied.’” (292)
Probably my favorite quotes are King’s comments about “enlightened” centrists and platitude-spouting, anti-conflict moderate liberals:
“The negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action’; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a ‘more convenient season.’ Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.” (295)
“White Americans must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society. The comfortable, entrenched, the privileged cannot continue to tremble at the prospect of change of the status quo.” (314)
There is so much wisdom and brilliance packed into these pages that you absolutely need to read for yourself. In these troubling political times, King offers a beacon of light to generate the power of hope in anyone who will take his message to heart. Read A Testament of Hope. Receive that message. Join a cause. We can change the world. Dr. King has given us the blueprint!
Read one speech or one section or every word. No matter how much of this book you read, you will get to know a man whose powers of persuasion and sense of morality are unmatched. Every line feels like a gut punch or a resounding call to action. Every conviction is delivered with the intelligence of a scholar and the thunderous might of a preacher. Martin Luther King was a radical who could ruthlessly and expertly criticize Jim Crow, segregation, white liberals, world leaders, the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, hell, even CAPITALISM while remaining a pillar of love and nonviolence. How could one man inspire such change in the world?
I can’t explain why, I can only provide some of his insights in his own words, many of which still apply to problems we see in our country today:
“It must be emphasized that nonviolent resistance is not a method for cowards; it does resist. If one uses this method because he is afraid or merely because he lacks the instruments of violence, he is not truly nonviolent. This is why Gandhi often said that if cowardice is the only alternative to violence, it is better to fight.” (17)
“There is more power in socially organized masses on the march than there is in guns of a few desperate men. Our enemies would prefer to deal with a small armed group rather than with a huge, unarmed but resolute mass of people. However it is necessary that the mass-action method be persistent and unyielding… never let them rest.” (33)
“Our Congress is determined not to stifle the initiative of the poor (thought they clamor for jobs) through welfare handouts. Handouts to the rich are given more sophisticated nomenclature such as parity, subsidies, and incentives to industry.” (71)
“From a purely moral point of view, an unjust law is one that is out of harmony with the moral law of the universe. More concretely, an unjust law is one in which the minority is compelled to observe a code that is not binding on the majority. An unjust law is one in which people are required to obey a code that they had no part in making because they were denied the right to vote.” (164)
“I’m concerned about justice. I’m concerned about brotherhood. I’m concerned about truth. And when one is concerned about that, he can never advocate violence. For through violence you may murder a murderer, but you can't murder murder. Through violence you may murder a liar, but you can't establish truth. Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can't murder hate through violence. Darkness cannot put out darkness; only light can do that.” (249)
“Frankly, I have never yet engaged in a direct action movement that was ‘well-timed,’ according to the timetable of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the words ‘Wait!’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’ We must come to see with the distinguished jurist of yesterday that ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied.’” (292)
Probably my favorite quotes are King’s comments about “enlightened” centrists and platitude-spouting, anti-conflict moderate liberals:
“The negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action’; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a ‘more convenient season.’ Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.” (295)
“White Americans must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society. The comfortable, entrenched, the privileged cannot continue to tremble at the prospect of change of the status quo.” (314)
There is so much wisdom and brilliance packed into these pages that you absolutely need to read for yourself. In these troubling political times, King offers a beacon of light to generate the power of hope in anyone who will take his message to heart. Read A Testament of Hope. Receive that message. Join a cause. We can change the world. Dr. King has given us the blueprint!
trillium9's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't read all of this because it is LONG and very comprehensive. But these are great essays and speeches, I do recommend reading it if you want to dive deeper into his work.
Some key messages that come through in his speeches:
1. Nonviolent resistance is necessary, but it is no passive thing. It requires intense effort and dedication. It is not for the fainthearted.
2. The time for equality is now. Every day that passed without positive change, every white person or powerful institution who asked for patience and to slow down in the dismantling of racism, was wrong.
3. Dr. King often wrote about class, labor, and the economic system during his time. He didn't necessarily come to a strong conclusion about it, but he recognized that poor economic standing was hurting Black Americans greatly. He mused about better systems that would provide for the basic needs of all.
4. Dr. King really believed that a better future was possible, and he believed that we all deserved to go there. It's a common thread throughout his work.
Some key messages that come through in his speeches:
1. Nonviolent resistance is necessary, but it is no passive thing. It requires intense effort and dedication. It is not for the fainthearted.
2. The time for equality is now. Every day that passed without positive change, every white person or powerful institution who asked for patience and to slow down in the dismantling of racism, was wrong.
3. Dr. King often wrote about class, labor, and the economic system during his time. He didn't necessarily come to a strong conclusion about it, but he recognized that poor economic standing was hurting Black Americans greatly. He mused about better systems that would provide for the basic needs of all.
4. Dr. King really believed that a better future was possible, and he believed that we all deserved to go there. It's a common thread throughout his work.
terrafyd's review against another edition
5.0
This is an amazing man. I chose this book over his biography so I could get a more intimate look into his mind and a look in his eyes at the civil rights movement. His voice, his writings and his thinking is so powerful, educated and awe-inspiring. I'm glad to spend this month of his birthday to read about this amazing history changing man. I truly wish he lived to a ripe old age. The entire world would be a better place for it.
taylorcombs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25