Martin Luther King's visionary approach of solving complex social problems during the mid-twentieth century. Here, Martin Luther King's prophetic voice is echoing the hopes and aspirations of oppressed people throughout his speeches, while he is showing them a non-violent path to freedom.
These landmark speeches begin from the time King left Boston University and started preaching in Montgomery, Alabama in 1954.
The book starts with an introduction by Andrew Young.
There are eleven speeches in chronological order and each one has an introduction by somebody who's been there to describe the mood of the speech and MLK. From first speech "Address to the First Montgomery Improvement Association" to the last, audience response is written in italics, emphasizing the historical importance of each delivery.
The Speeches are:
1. Address to the First Montgomery Improvement Association
introduction by Rosa Louise Parks
2. The Birth of a New Nation
introduction by Rev. Leon H. Sullivan
3. Give Us the Ballot
introduction by Walter E. Fauntroy (DC Representative)
4. Address at the Freedom Rally at Cobo Hall
introduction by Aretha and Erma Franklin
5. I Have a Dream
introduction by Dr. Dorothy I. Height
6. Eulogy for the Young Victims of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing
introduction by Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth
7. Acceptance Address for the Nobel Peace Prize
introduction by the Dalai Lama
8. Address at the Conclusion of Selma to Montgomery March
introduction by Representative John Lewis
9. Beyond Vietnam
introduction by George McGovern
10. Where Do We Go from Here?
introduction by Senator Edward Kennedy
11. I've Been to the Mountaintop
introduction by Andrew Young.

the part in "Where Do We Go From Here" where he says "let us be dissatisfied until..." That is, if I have to pick something, because picking isn't easy.
I also liked the introductions to the speeches very much.

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write down quotations from it but there were so many that I'd have to write the whole book down.

hopeful for the future, for the ultimate achievement of mankind, for a worldwide peace, freedom, tolerance, love, and understanding.

Martin Luther King Jr. is the visionary leader of Civil Rights Movement during the mid-twentieth century. The speeches belong to him; however, the book is compiled by many hard-working people of the "King Papers Project" and is edited by Clayborne Carson and Kris Shepard.

This book has excellent historical and social value, not only for speech writers and historians but for every human being.
Martin Luther King's words are applicable to the entire human race anytime. They are suitable for the problems we face today and they will probably be relevant for many centuries to come.
Also this book is truly inspirational as well as being very easy to read.

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Martin Luther King tried to free everyone, not only the oppressed but also their oppressors. He tried to instill in his followers nonviolent action, very much like Gandhi.
I have been truly impressed forever by the power and humanity of these speeches. Although they may have been prepared to lead the way for Civil Rights in America, these speeches are a guiding light for human rights anywhere.

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Created Jan 03, 2002 at 10:34pm • Submit your own review...