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April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Death and How It Changed America Audiobook
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(3.08) - 173 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr., the prophet for racial and economic justice in America, was fatally shot while standing on the balcony of a Memphis hotel. Only hours earlier, he had ended his final public speech with the words, "I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight, that we as a people will get to the Promised Land." In this impactful book, acclaimed public intellectual Michael Eric Dyson offers a comprehensive reevaluation of the fate of America, specifically Black America, since that date. Ambitiously and controversially, he investigates the ways in which we as a people have made it to that Promised Land King spoke of, and the many areas in which we still have a long way to go. April 4, 1968 takes a sweeping view of King's death, remembering all the toil, triumph, and tribulation that led to that fateful date while anticipating the ways in which King's legacy will affect the future of this country.
This celebration of King's leadership challenges America to renew its commitment to his vision.
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"Okay, just finished the audiobook. I really like Dyson's writing, and I learned a lot of surprising information about the big players in the Black civil rights movement. (Al Sharpton and James Brown were BFFs. Huh.). But the last part is really weird, where Dyson imagines a conversation with the didn't-die version of King. I want to linguistically explore Dyson's concept of automortology further."
— Jill (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“With deep, resonant projection that at times sounds eerily like Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, own voice, Dyson narrates his deep exploration into the most significant aspects of King’s legacy since his assassination on April 4, 1968…Even when not echoing King’s cadence and intonation, Dyson delivers a strong narrative performance that illuminates his belief in King’s dream.”
— AudioFile -
“Dyson delivers a strong narrative performance that illuminates his belief in King’s dream.”
— Audiofile
Awards
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A Washington Post bestseller
April 4, 1968 Listener Reviews
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4/11/2024
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" i give it four stars, because it's well-written and compelling. however, i just don't have the attention span right now to actually finish this wordy book. "
— Karen, 1/13/2014 -
" So far, I'm enjoying his reading of King's rhetoric as largely automortological. I hadn't thought of King's speeches in this way before. "
— Lee, 10/14/2013 -
" April 4, 1968 was a powerful book written by Michael Eric Dyson. After reading this book, I learned more about Martin the man as opposed to the traditional. This book was very detailed and full of good information. "
— Michael, 10/1/2013 -
" I saw this author on CNN's "Black in America" documentary. "
— Jay, 7/4/2013 -
" A chance to learn more about MLK and reflect on his legacy is a welcomed opportunity. "
— Mariama, 6/8/2013 -
" an interesting exposure to a part of culture I wasn't greatly familiar with. Touched not only King but Obama, Sharpton, Jackson, etc "
— Michelle, 6/7/2013 -
" dyson says he's trying to humanize king. could have fooled me. enough with his personal morality, plz. "
— Elizabeth, 11/26/2012 -
" An in depth look at the death of MLK and the behind the scenes power struggle of the prominent men who took up the struggle for the leadership of the black cause. "
— Christopher, 2/20/2012 -
" A very interesting sociological look into the impact MLK Jr's assassination had on black and white America. "
— Jarred, 1/13/2012 -
" I liked this a lot even though I wasn't his core audience. "
— Caroline, 9/22/2011 -
" I'm currently listening to this on CD. Completely fascinating. I want to go back and listen to his book on the life of MLK. I've read so much on race, interviewed so many black friends, and yet the more I learn, the more I feel I have to learn. "
— Mary, 7/17/2010 -
" I just learned a little more about MLK than just the I Have a Dream speach. "
— Heather, 2/7/2010 -
" Dyson made some interesting points about King's death and it's impact on society, especially African American society. It was not the best book ever, but fairly interesting. The interview at the end was questionable... "
— Adam, 12/23/2009
About Michael Eric Dyson
Michael Eric Dyson is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of over twenty books, a widely celebrated professor, a prominent public intellectual, an ordained Baptist minister, and a noted political analyst. He has twice won the NAACP Image Award winner and won the American Book Award for Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster. His book The Black Presidency: Barack Obama and the Politics of Race in America was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize. He is also a highly sought-after public speaker. He is the recipient of the 2020 Langston Hughes Festival Medallion, and Ebony magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential African Americans and one of the 150 most powerful Black people in the nation. Follow him on Twitter @michaeledyson and on his official Facebook page (facebook.com/michaelericdyson).