The Greatness of Martin Luther King Jnr

A Review of King: A Life by Jonathan Eig.

When Martin Luther King was shot on April 4th, 1968, his autopsy report revealed that his heart condition was that of a 60-year-old man. If you read this book, and Bearing The Cross by David Garrow, you will understand why. Martin carried a burden that was bigger than his age. He was too young. He was too inexperienced. He was unqualified. He had too many faults. He was always late to meetings, he plagiarized speeches, he would never miss good food, he was a Daddy’s boy, and he cheated on his wife many times.

Yet, Martin Luther King was an exceptional leader. He rose to the occasion on so many levels. He changed America.

This biography traces his family history from before the birth of MLK. It gives a good background to what forces shaped Martin Luther King Snr, who was born Michael King and only changed his name after learning about Martin Luther of Germany, the great reformer. Although he had great hopes in choosing the name, it was his son who would go on to make reforms a reality.

Just fresh out of college with a PhD in hand, Martin Luther King was thrust into a leadership role for which his only qualification was his inexperience. The bold Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on December 1, 1955. This began a protest that would last for over 381 days. Black people boycotted buses choosing to trek rather than to receive segregated services. When the leaders of the bus boycott movement had met to discuss how to proceed after Rosa Park's defiance none of them had the premonition that this would be a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement. This small movement gave great momentum to civil rights all across the nation. Of course, with its victory the leader of the movement became a national leader. All this happened while he was just 26!

As Martin was working to win freedom for black people he made so many enemies including the FBI leader, J Edgar Hoover. More than anyone Hoover and the FBI did more to destroy MLK until he was eventually shot. The great achievement of Jonathan Eig in this book is that he was the first biographer to write an MLK bio after the release of many withheld documents. He got to see how the FBI saw Martin during his lifetime. As far as they were concerned, they saw him as a threat, a conny man, a communist, and a destroyer of the life of racism, segregation, and unfreedom that they cherished. They did try to destroy him many times sending threats to expose him.

You know what? Martin did not back out. He knew the cost. He knew the consequences. He knew he wasn’t clean. But he also knew that he ought to be fighting for the right to be human. I guess part of it is that Martin realized that whether or not he was a perfect man was not the issue, the issue was whether he deserved equal rights as every other American citizen. The answer is yes. Any society that grants freedom based on color, gender, race, or any other requirement is unequal.

Thank Goodness MLK didn’t stop his agitations. Despite his limitations, he showed and did what he could. That wasn’t enough. Ultimately, it was after his death that some of the things he fought for came to pass.

I found Jonathan Eig’s narration to be captivating. I picked this book because I had read his previous work, Ali: A Life. It was also an easy read. Once you begin you can’t stop. I learned new insights about King. For example, his respect for a good meal. King would miss important engagements just to stay and enjoy a good meal. Who would have thought that such a highly intellectual, energetic, and passionate leader would have time for such? He did.

Such a great man. Such a great life.

Cut in his prime, but had more impact than many who had more power, more time, and more money.

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