Faith in Action

On my birthday I received the coveted America during the King Years trilogy by Taylor Branch. Each book has eight to nine hundred pages in it so ,needless to say, my reading schedule isn’t going to be changing as rapidly as it usually does. I’m reading Parting the Waters right now and I’m on page 570. So far, I think Branch has done an amazing job of giving the details - the nuts and bolts of the Civil Rights Movement and also providing info on the context of the world during that time. It’s not just about King. It’s about the world that developed King and the contextual factors that helped evolve him into a religious and social justice leader.

The book also exposes the flaws of the movement and the flaws of the people within it. This I find as most valuable because I believe that as I continue on my path I can learn from the movements and people of the past. I want to know about the illicit affairs, the challenging group dynamics, the egos that can disband a coalition, etc. I’m studying the Movement so that I won’t be surprised by most of the situations that are prone to come my way. The potholes come with the path that I’ve chosen. I just want to be aware of their possible location. If I repeat the failures of my elders then I’ll have only myself to blame. Yes, I will have shortcomings, but they shouldn’t be the same ones that King, Abernathy, Nash, Baker, and the rest experienced.

So, of course, I highly recommend this book. For those who have already read it, I would be interested in hearing your comments as well.