By Kavita Mistry
by Anthony Conty (Parkville, MD): In discussing the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, the average American could take a quiz and earn a solid D-plus. Any glimpse into his life before the 1960s educates. Only knowing one aspect of his life and demeanor, I could not read any dialogue from him without envisioning him bellowing a platitude. Author Jonathan Eig seeks his true humanity.
“King: A Life” offers behind-the-scenes details that reveal character flaws while demonstrating, without question, how King’s booming, articulate voice motivated many into nonviolent action during the Montgomery bus boycotts. His presence was also a pivotal vote-getter in the Kennedy-Nixon election when JFK freed MLK from an unlawful prison stint.
A famous quote attributed to King is that he never responded to his critics because his goals required too much time and effort. The protests involved time in jail and a high level of organization. Progress came slowly, and all of the big names of the 1960s politics tried to help and appease the white majority simultaneously. King’s supporters knew he was not a perfect man, but they believed he was “perfect for the job” of enacting change.
The interactions between President Johnson and J. Edgar Hoover are the most interesting, as the leaders were both brash and active in the civil rights movement. Our modern leaders get one of those points right. It paints a different picture of a different type: a controversial war, accusations of Communism, and human rights violations. I knew so little about King’s role in these.
An excellent biography makes you think and reads like a work of fiction. Protagonist King teaches us patience and pacifism, showing that few others had the patience or the wherewithal to implement change. Sure, you could watch a riot and say “Be more like King”, but recognize how hard that is.