Why We Can't Wait

Following what he had done in Montgomery a few years prior, here's MLK applying his remedy to Birmingham, probably then one of the most segregated cities in the USA. Led by 'Bull Connor', a vile White supremacist, here was a town indeed where, between 1957 and 1963, 17 bomb attacks against Black churches and civil rights campaigners went unpunished, a bastion of the racist/ segregationist South, yet that will become the symbol of a non-violent revolution.

It's astounding to think that African-Americans were still subjected to such a racial yoke, especially at a time when, in the rest of the world, Black people were in the process of earning their independence from their past colonial powers. The hypocrisy of the government might have show more been truly angering; the clock being constantly set back by some States utterly frustrating; and so it was no wonder, of course, that it had reached such a boiling point. And indeed, who doesn't have the images still burnt into their minds, that of racism exploding onto their screens thanks to TV, which was then a relatively new media? Protesters attacked by police dogs and sprayed with water canons, women beaten up to the ground, children even as young as 6 being put under arrest... The horror will set in motion a whole process that will ultimately lead to the signing of the Civil Right Act.

It's astounding, too, to think that such violence and hatred are not so far back in time. Still in Birmingham, 1963 will end up by the bombing of a church (killing four little girls), the murder of a boy and by the police in broad daylight, while another boy will be killed by a racist mob, with the authorities having no care for these three cases. Hopeless? Not so much.

Birmingham, again, was indeed where the racial question exploded into the face of a country still having its head buried in the sand, where the brutality of racism was fully exposed, and where, despite all such violence, a case was made in favour of non-violent action to serve a cause. As always with MLK, here's more than a book -it's a privilege. The privilege to hear about it all from one of the key actors to such events.

Engrossing, moving, and deeply humanistic. show less

Unfortunately, Martin Luther King’s legacy is often distilled into being a person who gave great speeches and advocated for a colorblind society. What’s missing in that simplistic view is his genius at organizing, his tactical brilliance, and his ability to create a vision that everyone could see. This book goes into all of that, in his own words. That helps as his actions aren’t being filtered or interpreted by someone else. King provides a great snapshot—almost like a historian—of 1963 and how the world was focusing their attentions after the assassination of President Kennedy. The main focus is on the actions in Birmingham and his ability to create a form of economic and racial justice for the people there. He also show more backtracks and provides a great deal of strategies—be it Biblical teachings, Gandhi, or his own understanding of America’s inhumane caste system. With social injustice still happening around the world, this book is important for anyone who has dedicated themselves to creating positive change. show less

What’s important to remember when considering King’s legacy is that his vision of social justice changed in the late 60s to an economics of raising up the poor of all races. He knew that racial animosity would continue as long as the middle class could be convinced that the poor, minorities and immigrants should be derided and and scapegoated. The last thirty years have seen the economic hierarchy become even more skewed towards the 1%, who have grabbed the reins of political power through their proxies in the Republican Party.

Dr. King’s words are gems – Profound. Written with the eloquence of Shakespeare and the timeliness of today’s headlines. This book dispels the mythical, classroom teachings that tout the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, as an accidental occurrence – shedding light on the intricate plans, tactics and maneuvers of dedicates individuals and groups who understood the gravity of the mission: None are free, until all are free.
Squelching racial bigotry and “Jim Crow” laws was the widely viewed aim of the mission – but Civil Rights are the Basic Rights – Human Rights. These are the rights that so many (including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) sacrificed and died to give to all disenfranchised people, everywhere...SMILE!!!

Why we can’t wait is Martin Luther King’s essay on the civil rights movement and the events of 1963, a pivotal year in the struggle, the year of the Birmingham protests and the year of the march on Washington when Dr. King told us “I have a dream.” When I first read the book in college, the events were fresh. Re-reading the book many years later, I am still impressed by the writing of Dr. King and his message is as relevant today as it was then.

The book explains why the movement decided to focus on Birmingham, perhaps the most oppressive city in Alabama for minorities, and the strategies of nonviolent protest. Included in the book is the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” which is a reply to clergy in Birmingham who asked for show more moderation. Dr. King explains why that time was now to change America and moderation was no longer acceptable. The events of 1963 led to political action by Lyndon Johnson and other members of Congress. Dr. King then goes on to explain why affirmative action (as we call it today) is necessary and desirable.

The author and TV host Glenn Beck holds Martin Luther King Jr. as one of the great men of the 20th century. Whether you agree with Beck or not, take his advice in reading original source materials from Dr. King himself, not what someone else has written about him. On the subject of civil rights, this book is a good place to start. show less

This book is about the life of people being a different color. It's starts off talking about the Emancipation of Proclamation when black people or bi-racial freedom. But in 1950-1963 African Americans were segregated from all white. They were not allowed to go to the same stores or any other places were white people were allowed to go and it was always like that for a very long time but then a man named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. showed up. He was a man who didn't believe in segregation and he would take march's and he gave his famous I have a dream speech. Many people believed in Martin and not everybody did because of the things that he was doing they used to be illegal back then so he was put in jail for the "wrong" thing s that he show more was doing. Eventually he was let out of jail and a couple years later in Memphis Tennessee he was assassinated on the balcony of his motel in 1968. In 2011 in Washington D.C they made a statue of him for the wonderful thing he did. show less

nan