
By Amanda Cooper, Marketing Intern, University Press of Kentucky
Today we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., days after what would have been his 93rd birthday. Dr. King dedicated his life to the civil rights movement, fighting for the humane and equal treatment of Black Americans through peaceful means. In a time when American voting rights are still being disputed, and Black Americans must continue to insist that their lives and voices matter, it is as vital as ever to remember Dr. King’s message and vision.
In remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the University Press of Kentucky is proud to feature five books that examine his work, achievements, and enduring legacy.
Becoming King: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Making of a National Leader
by Troy Jackson
“Becoming King explores the iconic leader’s first and most sustained intimate connection with local people within the civil rights movement. As such, the monograph provides further contemplation of King’s legacy along with its place in the ever-burgeoning civil rights literature.”—Georgia Historical Quarterly
“Anyone interested in Martin Luther King’s growth into the man and icon we have come to cherish would do well by starting with this well-written, richly researched contribution to the historical literature.”
— Louisiana History
The Chicago Freedom Movement: Martin Luther King Jr. and Civil Rights Activism in the North by Mary Lou Finley, Bernard LaFayette Jr., James R. Ralph Jr., and Pam Smith
“The Chicago Freedom Movement should be a handbook for present-day human rights activists. Through the eyes of a diverse group of seasoned civil rights leaders, it weaves a fabric that connects the actions and lessons of summer 1966, through decades of Chicago history, to inform reinvigorated grassroots movements today.”—Phillip Nyden, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Research and Learning, Loyola University Chicago
“The Chicago Freedom Movement brings together a unique collection of voices that help to shine a light on an important set of northern-based struggles and a powerful chapter in the larger movement’s history.”—Barbara Ransby, historian and author of Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision
In Peace and Freedom: My Journey in Selma by Bernard LaFayette Jr. and Kathryn Lee Johnson
“An inspiring story of the human qualities and sacrifices that helped bring about a world we sometimes take for granted.”—Kirkus
“A life dedicated to King’s idea of achieving peaceful ends through peaceful means.”—CBS News
After the Dream: Black and White Southerners Since 1965 by Timothy J. Minchin and John Salmond
“Essential reading for scholars and general readers who want to understand efforts to implement the civil rights revolution in the South after 1965….In lucid prose, the author takes the reader through the historic attempts to fulfill the dream of racial equality articulated by Martin Luther King, Jr.”—Arkansas Historical Quarterly
“Provides insight into how everyday people responded to the social revolution that changed everything and left so much undone.”—Journal of Southern History
Yes We Did?: From King’s Dream to Obama’s Promise by Cynthia Griggs Fleming
“Fleming delves into the interactions between participants in early civil rights actions, describing the general conflicts, the use and important of the media, the developing goals of the SNCC and other groups, and how these goals have changed today.”—Book News
“A must-read for anyone who has even the slightest interest in the black leadership of America. Rich in summary and insight, this book presents the thoughts, desires, and hopes of a cross section of black male and female leaders from King to Obama. In addition to offering a new understanding of the history of African American leadership, it will produce stimulating intellectual debate.”—Merline Pitre, author of In Struggle Against Jim Crow