20 Best Books On Mlk (2023 Update)

"if there is one book martin luther king, jr. has written that people consistently tell me has changed their lives, it is strength to love." so wrote coretta scott king. she continued: "i believe it is because this book best explains the central element of martin luther king, jr.'s philosophy of nonviolence: his belief in a divine, loving presence that binds all life." in these short meditative and sermonic pieces, some of them composed in jails and all of them crafted during the tumultuous years of the civil rights struggle, dr. king articulated and espoused in a deeply personal compelling way his commitment to justice and to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual conversion that makes his work as much a blueprint today for christian discipleship as it was then. individual readers, as well as church groups and students will find in this work a challenging yet energizing vision of god and redemptive love.

Read the detailed and absorbing chronicle of martin luther king's leadership during the most tumultuous period in america's recent past–featuring a foreword by dr. bernice king. martin luther king jr. is known for famous speeches such as i have a dream, and his ability to inspire the people of the united states to demand equality, regardless of the color of their skin. his ability to lead has cemented himself as one of america's greatest civil rights advocates. and in today's world, his wisdom and teachings are needed more than ever. martin luther king jr., on leadership chronicles the actions of martin luther king jr.'s life and identifies the key leadership skills he displayed such as: practice what you preach take direct action without waiting for other agencies to act give credit where credit is due laws only declare rights, they do not deliver them and much more . . . this book is part history and part guide to becoming a great leader, inspired by martin luther king jr., an advocate to peaceful change while never wavering in making the opposition listen and give in.

From the critically acclaimed little people, big dreams series, discover the life of martin luther king, jr., the inspiring minister and civil rights activist. little martin grew up in a family of preachers: his dad was a preacher, his uncle was a preacher, his grandfather was a preacher…so maybe he’d become a great preacher too. one day, a friend invited him to play at his house. martin was shocked when his mother wouldn’t let him in because he was black. that day he realized there was something terribly unfair going on. martin believed that no one should remain silent and accept something if it's wrong. this moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the inspiring activist’s life.little people, big dreams is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. all of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. this empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. the board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. the hardcover versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. paper dolls, learning cards, matching games, and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with little people, big dreams!

Renowned educator christine king farris, older sister of the late dr. martin luther king jr., joins with celebrated illustrator chris soentpiet to tell this inspirational story of how one boyhood experience inspired a movement. mother dear, one day i'm going to turn this world upside down. long before he became a world-famous dreamer, martin luther king jr. was a little boy who played jokes and practiced the piano and made friends without considering race. but growing up in the segregated south of the 1930s taught young martin a bitter lesson–little white children and little black children were not to play with one another. martin decided then and there that something had to be done. and so he began the journey that would change the course of american history.

New york times bestseller“this dynamic blend of biography and manifesto centers on louise little, alberta king, and berdis baldwin . . . tubbs’s book stands against the women’s erasure, a monument to their historical importance.”—the new yorker"tubbs' connection to these women is palpable on the page — as both a mother and a scholar of the impact black motherhood has had on america. through tubbs' writing, berdis, alberta, and louise's stories sing. theirs is a history forgotten that begs to be told, and tubbs tells it brilliantly."— ibram x. kendi, #1 new york times bestselling author of how to be an antiracist and national book award winner stamped from the beginning – much has been written about berdis baldwin's son james, about alberta king's son martin luther, and louise little's son malcolm. but virtually nothing has been said about the extraordinary women who raised them. in her groundbreaking and essential debut the three mothers, scholar anna malaika tubbs celebrates black motherhood by telling the story of the three women who raised and shaped some of america's most pivotal heroes. – a new york times bestsellers editors' choice – an amazon editor's pick for february – amazon's best biographies and memoirs of 2021one of the – skimm's "16 essential books to read this black history month"one of fortune magazine's "21 books to look forward to in 2021!" one of working mother magazine's "21 best books of 2021 for working moms"one of ms. magazine's "most anticipated reads for the rest of us 2021"one of bustle's "11 nonfiction books to read for black history month — all written by women"one of she these three extraordinary women passed their knowledge to their children with the hope of helping them to survive in a society that would deny their humanity from the very beginning—from louise teaching her children about their activist roots, to berdis encouraging james to express himself through writing, to alberta basing all of her lessons in faith and social justice. these women used their strength and motherhood to push their children toward greatness, all with a conviction that every human being deserves dignity and respect despite the rampant discrimination they faced. – these three mothers taught resistance and a fundamental belief in the worth of black people to their sons, even when these beliefs flew in the face of america’s racist practices and led to ramifications for all three families’ safety. the fight for equal justice and dignity came above all else for the three mothers. – these women, their similarities and differences, as individuals and as mothers, represent a piece of history left untold and a celebration of black motherhood long overdue.

Day and the battle over king's legacy that continued through the decades that followed. creating the first national holiday to honor an african american was a formidable achievement and an act of resistance against conservative and segregationist opposition. congressional efforts to commemorate king began shortly after his assassination. the ensuing political battles slowed the progress of granting him a namesake holiday and crucially defined how his legacy would be received. though coretta scott king's mission to honor her husband's commitment to nonviolence was upheld, conservative politicians sought to use the holiday to advance a whitewashed, nationalistic, and even reactionary vision of king's life and thought. this book reveals the lengths that activists had to go to elevate an african american man to the pantheon of national heroes, how conservatives took advantage of the commemoration to bend the arc of king's legacy toward something he never would have expected, and how grassroots causes, unions, and antiwar demonstrators continued to try to claim this sanctified day as their own.

Winner of the pulitzer prize, this biography of martin luther king, jr. covers the entire life of the leader of the civil rights movement winner of the 1987 pulitzer prize for biography and the robert f. kennedy book award, this is the most comprehensive book ever written about dr. based on more than seven hundred interviews, access to king's personal papers, and thousands of fbi documents, bearing the cross traces king's metamorphosis from a young, earnest pastor into the foremost spokesperson of the black freedom struggle. at the book's heart is king's growing awareness of the symbolic meaning of the cross as he gradually accepts a life that will demand the ultimate in self-sacrifice. this is a towering portrait of a man at the epicenter of one of the most dramatic periods in our history.

All of the landmark speeches of the great orator and american leader are in this collection. the set contains recordings previously included on "a call to conscience" and "a knock at midnight." description for the first time ever, twenty-four original recordings of dr. martin luther king, jr., from his iconic "i have a dream" speech to his stirring sermon "a knock at midnight," are collected together in this treasured box set. his landmark speeches that echoed around the world and the more intimate sermons from the churches where he carried out his ministry are just as moving and meaningful today as they were when the great orator first expressed them. dr. martin luther king, jr.'s speeches stirred a nation to change and his calls to peaceful action and refusal to turn to despair or violence in the face of injustice continue to inspire the world today.

Teach little learners about beloved civil rights leader martin luther king jr. with this 200-word board book. this little book introduces martin luther king jr., an iconic leader of the civil rights movement. simple, toddler-friendly text tells how king grew up, how he became a minister, and how he worked to end segregation in america. accessible for even the youngest of children, the story of martin luther king jr. helps readers understand who king is, what he did, and why his story still matters today.

To most americans, malcolm x and martin luther king jr. represent contrasting ideals: self-defense vs. nonviolence, black power vs. civil rights, the sword vs. the shield. the struggle for black freedom is wrought with the same contrasts. while nonviolent direct action is remembered as an unassailable part of american democracy, the movement's militancy is either vilified or erased outright. joseph upends these misconceptions and reveals a nuanced portrait of two men who, despite markedly different family histories, religious affiliations, and class backgrounds, inspired each other throughout their adult lives. malcolm's push to connect pan-africanism to an international human rights agenda mirrored the "beloved community" that king eloquently articulated at the march on washington. similarly, the anti-war and anti-poverty campaigns of king's final years unleashed a stinging critique of racism, militarism, and materialism that echoed malcolm's impassioned anti-colonialism. the sword and the shield is the definitive history of not only the revolutionary lives and political impact of these leaders, but also of the movement and era they came to define. —

Day with this little golden book biography all about the civil rights leader! the perfect introduction to nonfiction for preschoolers. this little golden book captures the essence of martin luther king, jr. for the littlest readers. they'll learn how his childhood in segregated atlanta—and in his father's church—shaped the future civil rights leader. and they'll gain a clear understanding of the way he became an eloquent, powerful voice for african americans.

The civil rights movement’s most prominent leaders, martin luther king, jr. (1929–1968) and malcolm x (1925–1965), represent two wings of the revolt against racism: nonviolent resistance and revolution "by any means necessary." this volume presents the two leaders’ relationship to the civil rights movement beyond a simplified dualism. a rich selection of speeches, essays, and excerpts from malcolm x’s autobiography and king’s sermons shows the breadth and range of each man’s philosophy, demonstrating their differences, similarities, and evolution over time. organized into six topical groups, the documents allow students to compare the leaders’ views on subjects including integration, the american dream, means of struggle, and opposing racial philosophies. an interpretive introductory essay, chronology, selected bibliography, document headnotes, and questions for consideration provide further pedagogical support.

What did martin luther king jr. find when he crossed the threshold into death? what did he regret? how did he view his life and work? medium rose campbell had the honor of being asked to be his "secretary" to take dictation on treatises that mlk wanted presented to the world to sum it all up. fascinating reading.

Martin luther king jr. (1929-1968), civil rights leader and recipient of the nobel prize for peace, inspired and sustained the struggle for freedom, nonviolence, interracial brotherhood, and social justice. james m. washington (1948-1997) was for over twenty years a professor of church history at union theological seminary in new york city and a leading authority on martin luther king jr.

As a new generation of activists demands an end to racism, a place to land reflects on martin luther king, jr.'s "i have a dream" speech and the movement that it galvanized. – winner of the orbis pictus award for outstanding nonfiction for children – selected for the texas bluebonnet master list – much has been written about martin luther king, jr. and the 1963 march on washington. but there's little on his legendary speech and how he came to write it. martin luther king, jr. was once asked if the hardest part of preaching was knowing where to begin. no, he said. the hardest part is knowing where to end. "it's terrible to be circling up there without a place to land." finding this place to land was what martin luther king, jr. struggled with, alongside advisors and fellow speech writers, in the willard hotel the night before the march on washington, where he gave his historic "i have a dream" speech. but those famous words were never intended to be heard on that day, not even written down for that day, not even once. – barry wittenstein teams up with legendary illustrator jerry pinkney to tell the story of how, against all odds, martin found his place to land. – an ala notable children's book – a capitol choices noteworthy title – nominated for an naacp image award – a bank street best book of the year – a notable social studies trade book for young people – a booklist editors' choice – named a best book of the year by publishers weekly, kirkus reviews, and school library journal – selected for the cbc champions of change showcase

A stunning picture book biography of the civil rights icon from the author of two newbery honor books and six coretta scott king awardees. set against key moments of the civil rights movement, here is the story of the powerful, eloquent spiritual leader and his belief that nonviolence could be used as a tool to begin to address racial discrimination.walter dean myers's moving narrative and leonard jenkins's compelling paintings convey a vivid and striking image of the man who moved american society closer to the ideals of freedom and fairness." in a clear and cogent manner, myers frames king's political efforts and his belief in nonviolent demonstration for change with information about the personal consequences to the man and his family. jenkins's stunning collage artwork dramatically reflects the events described in the narrative." (school library journal)"jenkins' dramatic, double-page collage illustrations set close-up portraits of the leader against crowd scenes of political marches and violent conflict. then, after the glory of the march on washington, there's a double-page spread showing the horror of the birmingham deaths. the book ends with king's assassination, but words and pictures show his strength and his enduring message against racism and for peace." (booklist)"there's always room for another book about the heroic leader, especially when it's a picture-book biography as good as this one." (kirkus)

A stunning picture book biography of the civil rights icon from the author of two newbery honor books and six coretta scott king awardees. set against key moments of the civil rights movement, here is the story of the powerful, eloquent spiritual leader and his belief that nonviolence could be used as a tool to begin to address racial discrimination.walter dean myers's moving narrative and leonard jenkins's compelling paintings convey a vivid and striking image of the man who moved american society closer to the ideals of freedom and fairness." in a clear and cogent manner, myers frames king's political efforts and his belief in nonviolent demonstration for change with information about the personal consequences to the man and his family. jenkins's stunning collage artwork dramatically reflects the events described in the narrative." (school library journal)"jenkins' dramatic, double-page collage illustrations set close-up portraits of the leader against crowd scenes of political marches and violent conflict. then, after the glory of the march on washington, there's a double-page spread showing the horror of the birmingham deaths. the book ends with king's assassination, but words and pictures show his strength and his enduring message against racism and for peace." (booklist)"there's always room for another book about the heroic leader, especially when it's a picture-book biography as good as this one." (kirkus)

With knowledge, spirit, good humor, and passion, the autobiography of martin luther king, jr. brings to life a remarkable man whose thoughts and actions speak to our most burning contemporary issues and still inspire the desires, hopes, and dreams of us all.written in his own words, this history-making autobiography is martin luther king: the mild-mannered, inquisitive child and student who chafed under and eventually rebelled against segregation; the dedicated young minister who continually questioned the depths of his faith and the limits of his wisdom; the loving husband and father who sought to balance his family's needs with those of a growing, nationwide movement; and the reflective, world-famous leader who was fired by a vision of equality for people everywhere.relevant and insightful, the autobiography of martin luther king, jr. offers king's seldom disclosed views on some of the world's greatest and most controversial figures: john f. kennedy, malcolm x, lyndon b. johnson, mahatma gandhi, and richard nixon. it also paints a rich and moving portrait of a people, a time, and a nation in the face of powerful change. finally, it shows how everyday americans from all walks of life confronted themselves, each other, and the burden of the past-and how their fears and courage helped shape our future.

"but it really doesn't matter to me now because i've been to the mountaintop. . . . and i've seen the promised land. i may not get there with you. these prophetic words, uttered the day before his assassination, challenged those he left behind to see that his "promised land" of racial equality became a reality; a reality to which king devoted the last twelve years of his life.these words and others are commemorated here in the only major one-volume collection of this seminal twentieth-century american prophet's writings, speeches, interviews, and autobiographical reflections. a testament of hope contains martin luther king, jr.'s essential thoughts on nonviolence, social policy, integration, black nationalism, the ethics of love and hope, and more.

"but it really doesn't matter to me now because i've been to the mountaintop. . . . and i've seen the promised land. i may not get there with you. these prophetic words, uttered the day before his assassination, challenged those he left behind to see that his "promised land" of racial equality became a reality; a reality to which king devoted the last twelve years of his life.these words and others are commemorated here in the only major one-volume collection of this seminal twentieth-century american prophet's writings, speeches, interviews, and autobiographical reflections. a testament of hope contains martin luther king, jr.'s essential thoughts on nonviolence, social policy, integration, black nationalism, the ethics of love and hope, and more.