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vibeke_hiatt's review against another edition
4.0
The week before Martin Luther King Jr Day, I read a tweet by Derwin Gray pointing out that many people who quote Dr. King have never read "Letter from Birmingham Jail." I realized that I've never read any of Dr. King's writings, and I wanted to remedy that.
Jesse Jackson says in the Afterword that everyone should read this book before they graduate high school and I agree. I learned things about civil rights history that opened my eyes. We learned so little in school. Dr. King writes in a very clear way, explaining his ideas and methods and their importance not just to the Black community, but to all communities. In the years since this book was written we have come so far, and yet not far enough.
My main problem with the book was more the fault of the publisher than Dr. King. He sometimes mentions events briefly without elaborating on them. I assume they were well known at the time and no explanation was needed. All these years later, though, it would be nice for the publisher to add footnotes so there reader doesn't have to put the book down to search the internet. There were also acronyms used that I'm unfamiliar with and had to look up.
I recommend this book to everyone, no matter where you stand on the issues of race.
Jesse Jackson says in the Afterword that everyone should read this book before they graduate high school and I agree. I learned things about civil rights history that opened my eyes. We learned so little in school. Dr. King writes in a very clear way, explaining his ideas and methods and their importance not just to the Black community, but to all communities. In the years since this book was written we have come so far, and yet not far enough.
My main problem with the book was more the fault of the publisher than Dr. King. He sometimes mentions events briefly without elaborating on them. I assume they were well known at the time and no explanation was needed. All these years later, though, it would be nice for the publisher to add footnotes so there reader doesn't have to put the book down to search the internet. There were also acronyms used that I'm unfamiliar with and had to look up.
I recommend this book to everyone, no matter where you stand on the issues of race.
bobbo49's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
When I went back to reread Letter from the Birmingham Jail, I decided I would read the rest of the book that King wrote about the Civil Rights Movement of 1963, and I'm certainly glad I did. Here King provides the entire background and context of his arrest in Birmingham, and the philosophical, social and political context of the movement. As always, King is thoughtful, articulate, and passionate. A worthwhile read for every American of every generation, as sixty years later we have still so much further to go.
munchkindad's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
djreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
This is a must read for anyone who considers themselves an activist. Everyone should read it, but no activist should hesitate to pick it up immediately.
fclancy93's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
femib's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0