The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement

It took longer than usual to read this book which contained selections from the author's America in the King Years trilogy.

Each chapter is devoted is an instrumental event of the Civil Rights years.

While it was worth the read, I found the book pedantic and at times preachy.

I enjoyed reading this author's narrative history. He is lucid and compassionate. I may have time one day to read the full three volume history he has written to absorb all the detail he researched but this short (190 pages) book composed of 19 pieces snipped from the three volumes with short introductions gives a sense of the arc of the story. Here are some small items that I remember from this read. King made his first speech on the civil rights issues at the age of 26 and he died 12 years later. What a short life. In discussing the Watts riots (1965?) there is a quote from the LA Police chief about the end of the rioting "We are on top. They are on the bottom." Talk about community relations!