I May Not Get There with You : The True Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Michael Eric Dyson
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"So much has changed since the glory days of the civil rights movement - and so much has stayed the same. African Americans command their place at every level of society, from the lunch counter to the college campus to the corporate boardroom - yet the gap between the American middle class and the black poor is as wide as ever. Where can we turn to find the vision that will guide us through these strange and difficult times? Michael Eric Dyson helps us find the answer in our recent past, by show more resurrecting the true Martin Luther King, Jr." "A private citizen who transformed the world around him, King was arguably the greatest American who ever lived. Yet, as Dyson so poignantly reveals, Martin Luther King, Jr. has disappeared in plain sight. Despite the federal holiday, the postage stamps, and the required reference in history textbooks, King's vitality and complexity have faded from view. Young people do not learn how radical he was, liberals forget that he despaired of whites even as he loved them, and contemporary black leaders tend to ignore the powerful forces that shaped him - the black church, language, and sexuality - thereby obscuring his relevance to black youth and hip-hop culture."--Jacket. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I will try to keep this review brief, as the one below is quite good.
But I do want to say that this book confused the heck out of me. I read it out of a want to learn more about the legend of Martin Luther King and the information was indeed quite revealing, but not as balanced as I would have liked
I have always heard how amazing MLK was, so imagine my surprise that this book would reveal a side of MLK that is undeniably sexist and authoritarian (sorry, I know MLK is untouchable to many...) The book left me feeling those things far more than the positive characteristics of compassion that most know of, his understanding of the connection between racism, poverty, and the military-industrial complex and of his accompanying devotion to show more fight those evils.
It is tragic that Martin passed away before he could make the next 2 connections in theory and action (those would be feminism and anti-authoritarianism). But this book doesn't focus enough on Martin's positive influence, of his amazing capacity for practicing what he preached. There are plenty of theorists out there that were leaps and bounds ahead of Martin in theory, but what separated Martin from the rest were his actions that followed his beliefs. Martin reached that fine line between theory and practice (praxis), even if his theory wasn't honed completely. Michael should have tried harder to leave the reader feeling deep down that Martin was amazing in his actions, despite his theoretical flaws.
I actually left the book thinking less of Martin and of of the merits of religion....which was not my intention, and which is exactly the opposite of what I think Michael was intending. However, kudos to Michael for honesty. show less
But I do want to say that this book confused the heck out of me. I read it out of a want to learn more about the legend of Martin Luther King and the information was indeed quite revealing, but not as balanced as I would have liked
I have always heard how amazing MLK was, so imagine my surprise that this book would reveal a side of MLK that is undeniably sexist and authoritarian (sorry, I know MLK is untouchable to many...) The book left me feeling those things far more than the positive characteristics of compassion that most know of, his understanding of the connection between racism, poverty, and the military-industrial complex and of his accompanying devotion to show more fight those evils.
It is tragic that Martin passed away before he could make the next 2 connections in theory and action (those would be feminism and anti-authoritarianism). But this book doesn't focus enough on Martin's positive influence, of his amazing capacity for practicing what he preached. There are plenty of theorists out there that were leaps and bounds ahead of Martin in theory, but what separated Martin from the rest were his actions that followed his beliefs. Martin reached that fine line between theory and practice (praxis), even if his theory wasn't honed completely. Michael should have tried harder to leave the reader feeling deep down that Martin was amazing in his actions, despite his theoretical flaws.
I actually left the book thinking less of Martin and of of the merits of religion....which was not my intention, and which is exactly the opposite of what I think Michael was intending. However, kudos to Michael for honesty. show less
White supremacy does many things but I doubt it turns pacifist preachers into philandering patriarchs. Men cheat because of desire and opportunity. Unfortunately, Dyson writes just like he speaks so if your not a fan of his style, read every third word and not get too upset over his defense of King even in situations when King is indefensible.
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Author Information
42+ Works 4,037 Members
Michael Eric Dyson dives deeply into the true meaning of Barack Obama's historic presidency and its effects on the changing landscape of race and blackness in America. How has race shaped Obama's identity, career, and presidency? What can we learn from his major race speeches about his approach to racial conflict and the black criticism it show more provokes? Dyson was granted an exclusive interview with the president for this book, and Obama's own voice shines through. Along with interviews with Eric Holder, Al Sharpton, Maxine Waters, and others, this intimate access provides a unique depth to this engrossing analysis of the nation's first black president, and how race shapes and will shape our understanding of his achievements and failures alike. Michael Eric Dyson is a New York Times op-ed contributor, a Georgetown University professor, an MSNBC political analyst, and the best-selling author of seventeen books, including the American Book Award-winning Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster. show less
Awards and Honors
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- I May Not Get There with You : The True Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Original publication date
- 2000
- People/Characters
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Important events
- African-American Civil Rights Movement ; Vietnam War
- Dedication
- For the Revere
nd Martha L. Dyson, wife, friend, and lover - First words
- The prospect of another book on Martin Luther King, Jr., will prompt many readers to wonder, What is there left to say about Martin?
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The only way her legacy, or King's legacy, or the lagacy of a brave generation of freedom fighters will stay alive is if the rest of us, young and old alike, follow suit.
- Publisher's editor
- Maguire, Liz; Conway, Chad; Miller, Beverly; Lewis, Edith
- Blurbers
- Conyers, John, Jr.; Moore, Michael; Ellroy, James; Stephanopoulos, George; Painter, Nell Irvin; Vanzant, Iyania (show all 7); Freedman, Samuel G.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Politics and Government, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction, History, Religion & Spirituality
- DDC/MDS
- 323.092 — Society, government, & culture Political science Civil Rights & Liberties/ Human Rights Civil Rights Biography And History Biography
- LCC
- E185.97 .K5 .D97 — History of the United States United States Elements in the population Afro-Americans Biography. Genealogy
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 280
- Popularity
- 115,228
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.32)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 1
