Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Final Year
Written by David Ritz
4/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
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.
David Ritz
David Ritz is a songwriter who has collaborated with stars like Janet Jackson and Marvin Gaye, as well as a renowned ghostwriter who has authored more than fifty books for some of the biggest stars in music: Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Lenny Kravitz, Joe Perry, Smokey Robinson, Don Rickles, and Willie Nelson, to name a few. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Essence, People, Art Connoisseur, and elsewhere. He lives in Los Angeles with Roberta, his wife of nearly fifty years.
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Reviews for Death of a King
90 ratings9 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I absolutely loved this book. The narration was incredible. The unique perspective and insight that Tavis offers into the last year of Dr. King’s life is absolutely fantastic. I not only enjoyed this book - I was changed by this book.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Could not finish the book because of the narrator's annoying voice..
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A dramatic final year of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. till his assassination in 1968. His opposition of the Vietnam War made people questioning his relevancy, denounced by the press, even from his brother and sisters in middle class Black community. King was always known for his anti-violence policy, he believed its the only way to fight against racism and to protest the unjust government. Smiley did a great job showing King as what he was, even if he was a preacher, deeply religious, King always thought himself as a sinner like the rest of us. He was a flawed human being; his history, promiscuity, and even his drinking habit are displayed for everyone to see. What’s important is his messages, as a prominent Leader in the Civil Rights Movement, his views and struggles resonates even till today. America is still divided, and probably will never be united, but King had a dream, all of us have a dream for a better tomorrow.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5His eyes saw the glory, and he wasn't afraid to stand tall! Even though the climate had changed in the 1960's from peaceful protests to revolutionary struggle (which caused King to be considered no longer relevant), King's passion for the people and commitment to their advancement would have proven to be a very important transformation for the civil rights movement. He was still a preacher who knew how to captivate the hearts and minds of people, and he still had unifying power. We can only imagine, with his willingness to even meet with his detractors to discuss a plan of moving forward together in spite of differences how things would have redeemed a generation, and the wicked forces behind his assassination (including the FBI) knew that all too well.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is GREAT, and key in allowing you to see an unfiltered, uncaricatured, real, and more importantly true Martin Luther King as well as the real struggle that plagues America and what lead to his death.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5No conocía mucho la vida de Martín Luther King, me ha sorprendido la constante tensión y lucha que tuvo que sobrellevar desde dentro y fuera de su organización. Es un hombre increíblemente inspirador en sus discursos y en su carácter. Sin duda, un modelo al que aspirar.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excelente libro, sumamente documentado y descrito de una manera fabulosa. La vida de Martin Luther King Jr, es un mosaico de emociones, sin embargo hasta el ultimo momento permaneció congruente a su pensamiento de igualdad. Otro grande que se fue antes de tiempo.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My smiley does a wonderful job of portraying the Dr MLK that history already knows, as well as the man they didn’t. His history, dignity, tenacity, promiscuity, and even his drinking is displayed for all to see. Smiley questioned the man that I knew and not in a bad way. He was a sinner just like the rest of us, just sometimes we dehumanize our heroes by taking away the bad and only remembering the good. I much rather like to think of leaders as human in hopes that one day, I might reach that stature as well!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How to bring a supreme moral vision into this dirty, compromised world? Dr King showed us how. His message lies not so much in his words as in his words plus his actions. 'I'm no saint', he says at one point, and this is precisely why we can look to him for guidance. Dr King's teaching - and it is a teaching - spans the lowest and the highest levels of human experience. It is also globally significant - increasingly so - and as applicable today as it was in the 1960s. Smiley's fine book brings new meaning to the living message which was spelled out in the final actions of this great man's life. I urge you to listen.
2 people found this helpful