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105 reviews for:
The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
Peniel E. Joseph
4.19 AVERAGE
105 reviews for:
The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
Peniel E. Joseph
4.19 AVERAGE
If you’re already well versed in MLK & X’s lives, there’s not much new here. However, there are some new stories that are interesting and it’s a very well-written comparison of their lives side-by-side. I very much appreciated this as a US History teacher, and will probably use a few excerpts in my Civil Rights Movement unit.
A powerful look at how two of the most important freedom fighters of this past century shaped the world around them and each other. "By the end of their lives, Malcolm and Martin had added critical i new dimensions to their political and intellectual repertoire. Malcolm X, the most electrifying political combatant for racial just of his generation, foun
d a state of grace through identification with human rights struggles capable of shielding black people from sprawling regimes of racial oppression that stretched from American to African and beyond. Martin Luther King, Jr., the national conscience of race and democracy, took up the peaceful sword on nonviolence to aggressively call for an end to racism, militarism, and poverty."
d a state of grace through identification with human rights struggles capable of shielding black people from sprawling regimes of racial oppression that stretched from American to African and beyond. Martin Luther King, Jr., the national conscience of race and democracy, took up the peaceful sword on nonviolence to aggressively call for an end to racism, militarism, and poverty."
A really important addition to the history of these two influential meteors.
Although some of their tactics and methods antagonized each other, they also complemented each other. While Malcom X could be described as a prosecutor (holding the US accountable for human rights violations), King would be characterized as a defense attorney (defending the humanity of black people in the face of Jim Crow and widespread institutional racism). Their dual strategies complemented each other and have served as a blueprint for equality worldwide.
Very good. Informative and filled in some gaps in my knowledge. It’s clear the author prefers the teachings of Malcolm X to MLK Jr (which is fine, this is not a judgement on that, just an observation).
Read this as part of an initiative at work. I admit, I did not know much about Malcolm X at all before reading this book, and the extent of my knowledge on MLK was predominately what they teach you on MLK Day or during Black History Month. Seeing how the lives of these two men contradicted and complemented each other within the context of the Civil Rights movement was interesting to see and I appreciated weaving each man's story throughout the book.
It is sad that so many of the things that I read about in this book are painfully relevant today, suggesting that we haven't actually progressed in terms of Black lives for decades now. I found that to be the most disheartening.
It definitely provided some excellent conversation. Frankly, I am surprised that my workplace picked such a potentially controversial book as you cannot help but see the struggles of Black Lives Matter within its pages and a critique of the current administration. I'm not complaining, but I think it would have been difficult had there been a MAGA Trump Supporter in our Book Study Group, as this would definitely brought to the forefront issues of American White Supremacy.
It is sad that so many of the things that I read about in this book are painfully relevant today, suggesting that we haven't actually progressed in terms of Black lives for decades now. I found that to be the most disheartening.
It definitely provided some excellent conversation. Frankly, I am surprised that my workplace picked such a potentially controversial book as you cannot help but see the struggles of Black Lives Matter within its pages and a critique of the current administration. I'm not complaining, but I think it would have been difficult had there been a MAGA Trump Supporter in our Book Study Group, as this would definitely brought to the forefront issues of American White Supremacy.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This was more of a play-by-play of each man's life, rather than an in-depth analysis of their philosophies, but still interesting to follow their careers side by side, especially as their goals start to align right before their deaths. It is hard to imagine how this country could have evolved, and how their legacies would have stood, had either or both lived.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I think this is a great 101 reader for someone looking to better understand Malcolm X and MLKJr. Is there new information in this text for those who have previously studied either man? NO, however, it was still well written and I found it to be a good, refresher of the lives and legacies of both men. There is a sense of objectivity to the text without sterility which again is helpful cause it leaves room for you to make and accept whatever truth you want to accept but I personally liked that there was no dressing up the mess of either man which I think is important to ensure they remain humanized rather than idolized Gods above reproach. Also it’s helpful to remember that you don’t have to be always right, get it right the first time, or be perfect, to be a change maker. Amen.