M.L.K Journey of a King

"I must go back to
   Montgomery...
I have begun the struggle,
   and
I can't turn back.
I have reach a
   point of no return."

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Bolden, Tonya. M.L.K. Journey of a King. New York: Abrams Books
for Young Readers, 2007.

ISBN 0810954761

Tonya Bolden

PLOT SUMMARY:

Not only does this book introduce young readers to the person behind the icon, it also takes them on a literal and visual journey of one man's personal life -- with his wife Coretta Scott King and their four children -- to his public struggle for equal rights and the belief that agape -- the selfless love for one's neighbor is the tie that binds all mankind. From his birth in 1929 to his death in 1968; this book truly shows the journey of a King -- M.L.K., born "Michael, his father changed his name to Martin Luther King in 1934 after her returned from a Baptist convention in Germany, birthplace of the sixteenth-century theologian Martin Luther, a leader of the Protestant Reformation." M.L. -- "his father's nickname for him," preferred "keeping it simple long before his life became so intense." Martin Luther experienced prejudice early in life, at the age of eight, outside a store, while "waiting for Mother Dear his face and spirit stinging from a white woman's slap and slander: 'Your are that nigger that stepped on my foot,' -- one might say this was the beginning of his journey to put an end to racism.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Coretta Scott King - Honor Winner, Tonya Bolden, has written a biography that is more than interesting -- it is compelling and it is accurate. Ms. Bolden brings words and pictures together in such a manner that the reader feels as if they have walked with M.L.K. and they have fought his fight and struggled his strife. Tonya Bolden provides documentation of her journey and research that took place while writing this book.  Her author's notes, selected sources, photography credits, and acknowledgments give a glimpse into Bolden's pilgrimage. Bolden choose to organize the book in a chronological manner. The layout is logical and easy to understand. Beginning with Michael's birth to his name change through formative years and experiences on to dating and marrying Coretta Scott and raising their young family;  to his commitment and steadfastness to Civil Rights and finally ending with his murder in 1968 -- his diverse, complicated yet simple and basic life is presented in such a manner that both young and old readers will be captivated. Bolden pointed out on several occasions Martin Luther's belief in nonviolence  and "he preached nonviolence to his followers in part for practical reasons. If blacks resorted to violence, the authorities might well call on the entire city police force, state troopers, and if necessary, the National Guard." M.L. believed in the Civil Rights Movement and hoped and prayed that "...God help [him] to see that where [he] stands today, [he] stands because others helped [him] to stand there and because the forces of history projected [him] there." The quotes by themselves are moving but coupled with the emotional and inspiring pictures -- this book goes beyond interesting to  charismatic, compelling, captivating and consuming. Tonya Bolden uses language and delivery that takes readers back in time, to another era when a "crowd of fifty thousand, the largest civil rights demonstration to date in America, and where M.L. gave his first national address." As readers progress through the book questions about that time are popping up in their minds and amazement of how far mankind has come and has yet to go -- welcome to the future.

REVIEW EXCERPT:

BookList: "Do libraries need another biography of King? Yes, if it's as good as this one, which will reach a wide audience. In an author's note, Bolden says she chose not to detail King's flaws but rather to focus on the "dream." The chatty style is accessible (why, though, does Bolden call King by his personal nickname, M. L., throughout?), and the handsome book design will encourage browsers. Stirring, beautifully reproduced, well-captioned photos (at least one on every double-page spread) accompany the text, supplemented with boxed quotes. Everything is fully documented in notes, and Bolden supplies a bibliography and a very detailed time line.

CONNECTIONS:

* Re-enact their favorite M.L.K. speech / moment
* Draw a timeline of M.L.K.'s life (birth, school, marriage, etc...)
* Draw a scene from the book -- how they imagine it would
    have been
* Read other biographies from that timeframe
* Read other bookis from Civil Rights Era