The author describes the causes; events; and consequences of the Korean War. In his analysis; the war had momentous repercussions for NATO; the UN; Russia; China; and the arms race. And it provided the prologue to America's next war in Asia - Vietnam.
#49100 in Books Tavis Smiley 2016-01-12 2016-01-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x .75 x 5.50l; .0 #File Name: 0316332771288 pagesDeath of a King The Real Story of Dr Martin Luther King Jr s Final Year
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. good night; sweet princeBy Frank L. Greenagel IIThis is the story of Dr. King's last year on Earth. On April 4; 1967; Dr. King gave a speech in NYC where he spoke out against the Vietnam War. He spoke about the physical; financial and spiritual costs of the war. His speech turned many people who were previously supportive of him against him: the media; some white liberals; President Johnson and even a number of his own followers.This book describes the split between a number of black civil rights leaders over which direction the movement(s) should go in. Focus on race? Povety? Anti-war? All three? Violence vs. non-violence? A few of Dr. King's closest advisers disagreed with his public break from President Johnson's policies on the war: "why alienate the President who helped push the civil rights act and the voting rights act through Congress a few years earlier?"Dr. King's schedule over his final year is partly driven by a sense of urgency of his cause and the occasional feeling of impending doom. Mr. Smiley writes a few times of how Dr. King considered the potential of his own early demise to his colleagues. Dr. King is constantly on the move; speaking at different events; meeting with leaders; talking to groups of 6 or 24 or 50 people in burnt out cities; and trying to keep the civil rights movement united and on a course of non-violence. He goes back and forth through despair and needs to speak on the pulpit to lift himself out of it. His concerns about the lack of jobs; poor education; awful working conditions for those that have jobs; poor health care and substandard housing is alarming because all of this issues still exist in the inner cities almost 50 years later. Particular attention near the end of the book is paid to the sanitation workers' problems in Memphis and the pull that the city had on Dr. King.Mr. Smiley is a writer; radio television personality who writes his own introduction to this book. He talks about how he has devoured books on Dr. King and felt the need to tell the story of Dr. King's last year and how he was viewed as a pariah by many of those that used to support him. The adoration is clear. Mr. Smiley announces that he will refer to Dr. King throughout the book as "Doc;" as most of his close friends did. The book is heavy on quotes from Dr. King's speeches by does not use quotations from Dr. King's notes or letters; not from his closest advisers. Mr. Smiley does use them as sources though; but he does not directly site them because (I believe) he wants to keep the book fast paced. From a historical perspective; that bothers me a little. It is why I consider this book 3.5 stars rather than 4.5 stars. Despite his adoration; Mr. Smiley does not gloss over Dr. King's affairs nor his self-plagiarism in his final book.19 of 21 people found the following review helpful. What a story!By Kindle 8 th GenerationReally loved this book which is not only well written but tells a story that few knew. Here was a man who in spite of his own acute depression and the hatred of nearly the entire nation Dr King never gave up his belief in nonviolence. This story of Dr Kings last year on earth paints a picture of a real flesh and blood man and not the card board saint we have created in our minds.Mr Smiley is to be congratulated for telling this story which portrays Dr King as a real person warts and all.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. The challenge to endureBy Sherman HenryThis book highlights the test of leadership. It humanized the men and provides insight that anyone seeking to promote equality and uplift for humans will face challenges etc. Conversely; the pages demonstrate how your call to battle May lead to being embattled with your own inner circle. Like Jesus struggled with his disciples and trying to serve a charge greater than one self in a world of competing interest. Dr. King encountered similar setbacks trying to stay true to non violence and turning the other cheek. Great book for those interested in history; and present challenges of moral civic leadership.
