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A review by angieoverbooked
The Kneeling Man: My Fathers Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. by Leta McCollough Seletzky
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Have you seen the photo on this book cover? It’s the second story balcony of Memphis’s Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
A few years ago, a friend and colleague of my dad casually mentioned, “My daughter is writing a book about my life.” My dad and his friend, Mac, met in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s when they were both working for the CIA. Given Mac's prior work as an undercover police officer in Memphis and my dad’s own experience as a Black man in their field, it wasn’t a stretch that his story would be book worthy. But what my dad didn’t always know was that Mac was the man kneeling by Dr. King in a photo he’d seen countless times.
Fast forward, The Kneeling Man: My Father’s Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. by Leta McCollough Seletzky came out April 4, 2023. My mom called and said, “I’m sending you a copy. We’re reading this book.” I followed directions and read the book. And it was great! Leta writes in a narrative style that I enjoyed (*great for readers who don’t gravitate toward nonfiction).
In the background of a fascinating true spy story set within the Jim Crow South is an adult daughter learning and understanding more about her father.
A few years ago, a friend and colleague of my dad casually mentioned, “My daughter is writing a book about my life.” My dad and his friend, Mac, met in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s when they were both working for the CIA. Given Mac's prior work as an undercover police officer in Memphis and my dad’s own experience as a Black man in their field, it wasn’t a stretch that his story would be book worthy. But what my dad didn’t always know was that Mac was the man kneeling by Dr. King in a photo he’d seen countless times.
Fast forward, The Kneeling Man: My Father’s Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. by Leta McCollough Seletzky came out April 4, 2023. My mom called and said, “I’m sending you a copy. We’re reading this book.” I followed directions and read the book. And it was great! Leta writes in a narrative style that I enjoyed (*great for readers who don’t gravitate toward nonfiction).
In the background of a fascinating true spy story set within the Jim Crow South is an adult daughter learning and understanding more about her father.