Book Description

The are autobiographical reflections of one who, living through much of the 20th century, providentially found his own life influenced by interaction with the five persons profiled. In a century which began optimistically as "the Christian century" but ended in the judgement of Bishop Spong's book title, "Christianity Must Change or Die", these five persons bore witness to a different kind of Christianity, one that reached beyond the limitations of the institutional church and reclaimed a more authentic following of Christ.

This work pays tribute to the moral capacity of mankind. In a century obsessed with man's inhumanity to man, these five person were unanimous in their appeal to freedom of conscience and their total risk of personal benefit in order to shape the course of history for the betterment of all.

Bryan gives firsthand accounts of his interactions with five of the most important prophetic voices of the twentieth century:

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), Baptist preacher and American civil rights leader; C. F. Beyers Naude (1915- ), Afrikaner pastor involved in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa; Clarence Jordan (1912-1969), Southern Baptist preacher and New Testament scholar who founded the interracial Koinonia Farm in Americus, Georgia; Jaroslav Stolar (1922-1988), biblical scholar and Christian leader during the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia; Huston Smith (1919- ), pioneering Christian scholar of world religions who early in this century argued for the validity of different faiths. ... Read more

Book Description

Level 2: Reading Independently

• More complex stories
• Varied sentence structure
• Paragraphs and short chapters

Young Martin Luther King Jr. is having some problems with his best friend, Bobby. First, they are going to different schools this year. Next, Bobby's dad is not letting his son play with Martin. When Martin learns why, he is confused and hurt -- but he learns a lesson that he will never forget. ... Read more

Book Description

Moldovan explores an aspect of Martin Luther King's legacy that has been largely overlooked by scholars until now. "Martin Luther King Jr." is a unique study of Dr. King's preaching and emerging theology spanning from his student days to his tragic death. The influence of Dr. King's religious convictions is conveyed through the personal accounts of his listeners. This study of theology and homiletics attests to Martin Luther King's indelible mark on American society. Moldovan traces the power and influence of Dr. King's words on those who heard him in Selma, Birmingham, and Chicago during the Civil Rights era. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Dream or a Nightmare?
James Cone's "Martin & Malcolm & America" is a fascinating contrast of the lives, experiences, and thoughts of two icons. It is written in a style that recalls good investigative journalism as it maps out the tumultuous times in which the two lived.

The philosophies of Malcolm and Martin, often portrayed as polar opposites in the media, are grounded in certain similarities. Both based their viewpoints on their religious traditions, believed that God was on the side of the poor and oppressed, and both held a passionate belief in the dignity of black lives. Both philosophies were formed in spite of the fact that they lived in a age when the institutions that ruled America either neglected the dignity of blacks, or ignored civil rights issues altogether.

The lives of Malcolm and Martin were quite different, however. Martin was raised in a upper middle class family in Atlanta, the descendant of slaves whose father and grandfather both became prominant preachers. He life afforded him a great education -- at Morehouse, Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University. His family was close knit.

Malcolm, by contrast, saw his father murdered by white supremicists and his mother abused by the social service agencies, which eventually institutionalized her. Malcolm ended up in the foster care system and eventually went to prison for petty crime. There, he came to value the importance of education, and read voraciously. Introduced by his brother to the Nation of Islam, he had a powerful conversion experience in prison. After his release, he became second in command to Elijah Mohammed, the religion's leader.

Both Martin and Malcolm spent their time working to improve the quality of black lives. Martin took on institutional power through civil rights legislation, and Malcolm worked in the urban ghettos, attempting to galvanize blacks to reject Christianity and move towards strengthening their lives through non-integration. Although Martin and Malcolm differed in their visions, they were more alike than not.

"Martin & Malcolm & America" is a great read. Highly recommended.

A 1st rate contrast and comparison of Martin and Malcolm
Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were the 2 most prominent African-American leaders of the 20th Century. In this book Dr. Cone explores how each leader rose to prominence. He also show why they did not win total acceptance from African-Americans. He compares and contrast their ideas and shows their strong and weak points.

Excellent comparison of two giants
Martin and Malcolm and America presents an extraordinary comparison of the two most influential figures of the Civil Rights movement. It is especially enlightening because it presents the sides of each man which the world has forgotten, that is, the militant nature of the later teachings of Dr. King and the more conciliatory nature of the later teachings of Brother Malcolm. James Cone also focuses heavily on the religious aspects of each man's teaching, arguing that neither man's philosophy can be separated from the religious doctrines he espoused.

If I had one critique of this book, it is that Cone relies too heavily on the Autobiography of Malcolm X for his Malcolm information. Almost all of his Malcolm info is quoted directly from that book, and like most autobiographies, Malcolm wrote/dictated with a bit of license. Having read the autobiography twice, it got a bit annoying at times to reread Malcolm's own words about himself. Malcolm was a far more complex (and more interesting) character than he portrayed himself to be, and that part was left out. (For more info, I'd recommend "Malcolm : The Life of the Man Who Changed Black America.")

All in all, though, this is a book that should be on your bookshelf. Highly recommended.

An insightful and challenging view of 2 great men!
Cone presents an indepth review of how Martin King and Malcolm X complimented and connected in their efforts to address problems of race and class in America. Used as a text in undergraduate courses on "social problems", this work offer students new insight into the lives and visions of these two American leaders and their attempts to confront the problems of our time. Well written and easily understood, Cone's work is a useful and challenging tool for better understanding the issues of race and class in America.

Informative
This book is well written and sheds light on the influence each man had in his primary arena and illustrates how the ripples touched those who were marginal to their arena. It illustrated the psuedo-dichotomy between the two political leaders and shows how they evolved to meet each other in the middle before their deaths. Definitely a book for someone who wishes to begin an indepth study of Martin King and Malcolm X. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Together Again
Martin Luther King Day provides children with a wonderful introduction to the life and times of Martin Luther King.This small book covers a lot of ground, by providing an overview of the history of how the holiday came to be and suggestions on how to celebrate it.More importantly, it sheds life on the man behind the holiday; a brief overview of King's life.Children will read about King's childhood, education, his exposure to Ghandi, his participation in the Civil Rights Movement, his assassination and much more.While the illustrations are not particularly elaborate, they mesh well with the story and add to the overall experience of the book.Reading this book as a family on Martin Luther King Day could be a fantastic new tradition and will help children learn that the holiday is more than a day off from school.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document, covering the life and work of Martin Luther King, Sr., is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thomson Gale. The length of the entry is 2661 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Book Description

Introduction to the life and accomplishments of famed civil rights leader and Nobel Prize winner, Martin Luther King Jr. ... Read more