Martin luther king biography book report

Since his assassination in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. has become something of a marble man - a saintly character who can only be spoken of in hagiographic language. As a tour guide who makes frequent stops at DC’s MLK Jr. memorial, I certainly fall into this trap when I talk about King with guests (although it’s understandable since the memorial is dedicated to uplifting his memory and is centered on a massive carving of King … in marble).

Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Life (Penguin Lives Biographies)

Originally published in 2002, I picked up Frady’s book about a year ago during a visit to the Howard University bookstore, in the hopes of deepening my knowledge and appreciation of King the man. It did. 

The truth is, King was no angel, and perhaps Frady’s narrative came as a welcome read precisely because brother Martin’s frailties and failings are included.

Some of it makes King more relatable; he smoked too much and used alcohol to cope with stress; he struggled with aloofness, vanity and The 20 Best Books on Martin Luther King, Jr. - Brooksy Society FYKIF