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King: Pilgrimage to the Mountaintop
A Stunning Reappraisal of King and His Increased Relevance
Might Martin Luther King Jr.’s greatest accomplishments have been ahead of him? His murder in April 1968 did far more than cut tragically short the life of one of America’s most remarkable civil rights leaders. In this concise biography, Harvard Sitkoff presents a stunningly relevant King. The 1955 Montgomery bus boycott, King’s 1963 soul-stirring address from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and the 1965 history-altering Selma march are all recounted. But these are not treated as predetermined high points in a life celebrated for its role in a civil rights struggle too many Americans have quickly relegated to the past. Carefully presented alongside King’s successes are his failures—as an organizer in Albany, Georgia, and St. Augustine, Florida; as a leader of ever more strident activists; as a husband. Together, high and low points are interwoven to capture King’s lifelong struggle, through disappointment and epiphany, with his own “Let us be Christian in all our actions.” By telling King’s life as one on the verge of reaching its fullest fulfillment, Sitkoff powerfully shows where King’s faith and activism were leading him—to a direct confrontation with a president over an immoral war and with an America blind to its complicity in economic injustice.
Might Martin Luther King Jr.’s greatest accomplishments have been ahead of him? His murder in April 1968 did far more than cut tragically short the life of one of America’s most remarkable civil rights leaders. In this concise biography, Harvard Sitkoff presents a stunningly relevant King. The 1955 Montgomery bus boycott, King’s 1963 soul-stirring address from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and the 1965 history-altering Selma march are all recounted. But these are not treated as predetermined high points in a life celebrated for its role in a civil rights struggle too many Americans have quickly relegated to the past. Carefully presented alongside King’s successes are his failures—as an organizer in Albany, Georgia, and St. Augustine, Florida; as a leader of ever more strident activists; as a husband. Together, high and low points are interwoven to capture King’s lifelong struggle, through disappointment and epiphany, with his own “Let us be Christian in all our actions.” By telling King’s life as one on the verge of reaching its fullest fulfillment, Sitkoff powerfully shows where King’s faith and activism were leading him—to a direct confrontation with a president over an immoral war and with an America blind to its complicity in economic injustice.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 26, 2007
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About the author
Harvard Sitkoff
29 books1 followerHarvard Sitkoff is is professor emeritus of history at the University of New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 1, 2015
It’s unimaginable that anyone would ever question the dream. However, Sitkoff’s book shows that not all admired King. He’s right when he says in the intro that his book is compact. Events happen quickly. I sometimes wish the pace had slowed somewhat. I, too, admired King and thought he was an extraordinary man.
This book shows that King was flawed, perhaps like all men. The womanizing was one of his downfalls, leaving him at the mercy of his critics. Sitkoff suggests, as well, that King lost control of the movement near the end.
What the author does well is dispersing sections of King’s prose throughout the text. You get a real feel for the man. He also uses dialogue from individuals who were present at these crucial times. The biography almost becomes a narrative, which is perhaps what makes it enjoyable.
The book ends, though, at the fatal gunshot. I still have remaining questions: How long did it take for the police to arrive? How quickly did they arrest the shooter? I heard the shooter was sentenced without a trial. Why? Perhaps another chapter was needed here, one that explored the investigation specifically.
This book shows that King was flawed, perhaps like all men. The womanizing was one of his downfalls, leaving him at the mercy of his critics. Sitkoff suggests, as well, that King lost control of the movement near the end.
What the author does well is dispersing sections of King’s prose throughout the text. You get a real feel for the man. He also uses dialogue from individuals who were present at these crucial times. The biography almost becomes a narrative, which is perhaps what makes it enjoyable.
The book ends, though, at the fatal gunshot. I still have remaining questions: How long did it take for the police to arrive? How quickly did they arrest the shooter? I heard the shooter was sentenced without a trial. Why? Perhaps another chapter was needed here, one that explored the investigation specifically.
October 7, 2009
Sitkoff recasts the popular image of the moderate liberal King, emphasizing the leftist revolutionary King. An interesting and useful thesis, and the evidence is broad and plentiful, if not particularly deep. Nor is Sitkoff a more than mediocre writer; this book is most effective when it lets King speak for himself. Still, as a concise biography, this book earns credit for its sober respectfulness and efficient organization.
January 31, 2010
Interesting, interesting.
August 23, 2010
Balanced, intimate retelling of King's life. Very readable & very informative. Highly recommend.
September 24, 2019
I've known about Martin Luther King, Jr. practically all my life, but I've actually known very little about him. This was a detailed and interesting depiction of King's work as a leader and life as a man. The excerpts from his speeches and first hand accounts helped make the account come alive. Sitkoff acknowledges King's sins, especially his many affairs and gluttony, side-by-side with his extraordinary courage and endless drive.
One thing that stood out was how King became an outspoken democratic socialist during the Vietnam War. It's interesting to hear his words repeated by candidates for president like Bernie Sanders. The dream continues!
One thing that stood out was how King became an outspoken democratic socialist during the Vietnam War. It's interesting to hear his words repeated by candidates for president like Bernie Sanders. The dream continues!
October 14, 2025
read for my TAship. pretty brief as far as biographies go which is a win for me! the biggest contribution really comes in the last few chapters which charts King’s post-1965 campaign, mired with critics who doubt King’s increasing economic radicalism and the emerging Black Power movement which takes aim at King’s approach. fascinating that in the last year or so of his life, he took a strong stance against Vietnam and lost so many of his former allies. even Bayard Rustin—the pacifist—wouldn’t join King’s anti war movement! Good book, well researched, easy to read!
June 20, 2019
Balanced, realistic, humane, rigorous, well-written, poignant depiction of a great man and his dreams, flaws, successes and failures. Makes you reflect about the present, which only great history books can do.
May 16, 2024
Unfinished. Started in October 2023. Gave up May 2024.
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August 14, 2015It took me a few weeks to read this book, because it's very in depth about MLK's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. This is not an idealized version about King's life, but rather portrays him as a flawed sinner. The author describes himself as an admirer of King's ideas, and I think this book is a pretty accurate description of King's life from the time he became involved in civil rights until his death. I learned things that were pretty shocking, both about King and life in the deep South during the 60's.
February 12, 2015
This book definitely did have me feel like I was there in the time of this Civil Movement. Extremely descriptive of Dr.King's life and steps towards his success. This book has the reader get a full understanding of the situation at dire need of attention. Is a great book!
November 15, 2019
I read this while I was was in a depression. very uplifting. "only when its dark enough can we see the stars"
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May 22, 2015Another MLK book that portrays the important MLK. In this twist it's a witness for many events of MLK
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews