A revealing and dramatic chronicle
of the twelve months leading up to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination
Martin Luther King Jr. died in one of the most shocking
assassinations the world has known, but little is remembered about the life he
led in his final year. New York Times bestselling author and award-winning broadcaster
Tavis Smiley recounts the final 365 days of King’s life, revealing the
minister’s trials and tribulations—denunciations by the press, rejection
from the president, dismissal by the country’s black middle class and
militants, assaults on his character, ideology, and political tactics, to name
a few—all of which he had to rise above in order to lead and address the
racism, poverty, and militarism that threatened to destroy our democracy.
Smiley’s Death of a
King paints a portrait of a leader and visionary in a narrative different
from all that have come before. Here is an exceptional glimpse into King’s life—one that adds both nuance and gravitas to his legacy as an American hero.
Download and start listening now!
Smiley also serves as the reader for the audio, a factor that gives another level of personalization to the already gripping narrative. In the introduction, Smiley remembers how when he was growing up, he recited the speeches of Dr. King in order to "find his own voice." And what a voice it is. Smiley's narration is smooth, measured, and backed by a rich, authoritative tone that truly adds another level of sentimentality and familiarity to the audio. Recommended for history buffs and those interested particularly in Dr. King.
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Brian Odom, Booklist