In a previous blog, I spoke about the book When Harlem Nearly Killed King by Hugh Pearson. The book is an account of the days leading to and following an attempt on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. during his visit to Harlem, New York in 1957. King was in Harlem to promote his book Stride Toward Freedom.
Stride Toward Freedom is King’s account of the Montgomery Bus Boycott that occurred from December 1, 1955 to December 21, 1956. Starting with King’s call to head the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama to Rosa Parks’ arrest to the end of the boycott, King speaks of the people, events and particulars of the boycott (from his perspective, as he cautions) that sparked the civil rights struggle throughout the American south, and placed him at the head of the movement.
I haven’t finished the book at this writing, so I can’t give a thorough observation and opinion here. I did find King’s prose engaging, drawing me in with his thoughtful observations. He doesn’t hold back from reporting the problems that resulted from individual frailty, but of course speaks of the overwhelming unity of the African-American community in Montogmery in their effort to overcome the indignities of segregation: A kind of unity needed today as African-Americans rally against recent displays of racism and racial injustices.
Stride Toward Freedom is available at the Headquarters Library, and the Forest Park, Jonesboro and Morrow Branches.
When Harlem Nearly Killed King is available at all CCLS Libraries. Please ask a Staff member for assistance in locating both titles.
