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 Customer Reviews
Cheap, durable, interesting, 22 Aug 2004
This book encompasses a wide range of experiences and attitudes shared by African-Americans from Emanicipation through Reconstruction and into the 20th century as articulated by the greatest figures of the time. What's better, for the cheap amongst us (I include myself in this), it sells for a very low price given that includes 3 great classics. Plus, it's good to take traveling as it comes in a compact but durable paperback. Essential reading for anyone interested in African-American history. Up from Slavery however stands by itself as essential reading for everyone. Booker T. Washington writes not as a great 'Negro' American, or even simply as a great American, but as a great humanitarian. It is an inspiring text, outstanding even next to the culture bomb that is The Souls of Black Folks. The second book reads like poetry or classical literature because the author was such a well educated man and, unlike Up From Slavery, reads from a distinctly Negro standpoint. In my opinion, it is a little overwritten and drags in the middle but still a very good read. The last, Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, puts a much more personal humanity into the volume. Its is much less political, focusing on the various incidents that make up a life lived in the shadow of the politics of colour, rather than a comment or analysis of such politics. All in all Three Negro Classics reaches for the breadth of African-American experience, and considering there are only 3 books, covers it very well.
Absolutely fantastic collection of books, couldn't be better, 17 Jan 2001
I would recommend this book if you have any interest in American history. the variety of the stories is intense and it really opens your eyes to the events whcih really happened a century ago.
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Customer Reviews
Cheap, durable, interesting, 22 Aug 2004
This book encompasses a wide range of experiences and attitudes shared by African-Americans from Emanicipation through Reconstruction and into the 20th century as articulated by the greatest figures of the time. What's better, for the cheap amongst us (I include myself in this), it sells for a very low price given that includes 3 great classics. Plus, it's good to take traveling as it comes in a compact but durable paperback. Essential reading for anyone interested in African-American history. Up from Slavery however stands by itself as essential reading for everyone. Booker T. Washington writes not as a great 'Negro' American, or even simply as a great American, but as a great humanitarian. It is an inspiring text, outstanding even next to the culture bomb that is The Souls of Black Folks. The second book reads like poetry or classical literature because the author was such a well educated man and, unlike Up From Slavery, reads from a distinctly Negro standpoint. In my opinion, it is a little overwritten and drags in the middle but still a very good read. The last, Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, puts a much more personal humanity into the volume. Its is much less political, focusing on the various incidents that make up a life lived in the shadow of the politics of colour, rather than a comment or analysis of such politics. All in all Three Negro Classics reaches for the breadth of African-American experience, and considering there are only 3 books, covers it very well. Absolutely fantastic collection of books, couldn't be better, 17 Jan 2001
I would recommend this book if you have any interest in American history. the variety of the stories is intense and it really opens your eyes to the events whcih really happened a century ago. R E A D T H I S B O O K ! ! !, 22 Jul 1998
It will open your eyes to truths hidden for decades. Malcolm X made me see what crimes to humanity my race (yes i'm white) has comitted. But it goes deeper than that. There are civil right movements in all the countries of the world, and this book inspires and reminds us of what HAS TO BE DONE! I love it!
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Customer Reviews
Cheap, durable, interesting, 22 Aug 2004
This book encompasses a wide range of experiences and attitudes shared by African-Americans from Emanicipation through Reconstruction and into the 20th century as articulated by the greatest figures of the time. What's better, for the cheap amongst us (I include myself in this), it sells for a very low price given that includes 3 great classics. Plus, it's good to take traveling as it comes in a compact but durable paperback. Essential reading for anyone interested in African-American history. Up from Slavery however stands by itself as essential reading for everyone. Booker T. Washington writes not as a great 'Negro' American, or even simply as a great American, but as a great humanitarian. It is an inspiring text, outstanding even next to the culture bomb that is The Souls of Black Folks. The second book reads like poetry or classical literature because the author was such a well educated man and, unlike Up From Slavery, reads from a distinctly Negro standpoint. In my opinion, it is a little overwritten and drags in the middle but still a very good read. The last, Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, puts a much more personal humanity into the volume. Its is much less political, focusing on the various incidents that make up a life lived in the shadow of the politics of colour, rather than a comment or analysis of such politics. All in all Three Negro Classics reaches for the breadth of African-American experience, and considering there are only 3 books, covers it very well. Absolutely fantastic collection of books, couldn't be better, 17 Jan 2001
I would recommend this book if you have any interest in American history. the variety of the stories is intense and it really opens your eyes to the events whcih really happened a century ago. R E A D T H I S B O O K ! ! !, 22 Jul 1998
It will open your eyes to truths hidden for decades. Malcolm X made me see what crimes to humanity my race (yes i'm white) has comitted. But it goes deeper than that. There are civil right movements in all the countries of the world, and this book inspires and reminds us of what HAS TO BE DONE! I love it!
An excellent sampling of King's writings and ideas., 31 Mar 1999
After having read quite abit by and About King over the years, I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they were new to King's philosophies and ideas or a veteran of the movement he helped to create within this country and the world.
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Customer Reviews
Cheap, durable, interesting, 22 Aug 2004
This book encompasses a wide range of experiences and attitudes shared by African-Americans from Emanicipation through Reconstruction and into the 20th century as articulated by the greatest figures of the time. What's better, for the cheap amongst us (I include myself in this), it sells for a very low price given that includes 3 great classics. Plus, it's good to take traveling as it comes in a compact but durable paperback. Essential reading for anyone interested in African-American history. Up from Slavery however stands by itself as essential reading for everyone. Booker T. Washington writes not as a great 'Negro' American, or even simply as a great American, but as a great humanitarian. It is an inspiring text, outstanding even next to the culture bomb that is The Souls of Black Folks. The second book reads like poetry or classical literature because the author was such a well educated man and, unlike Up From Slavery, reads from a distinctly Negro standpoint. In my opinion, it is a little overwritten and drags in the middle but still a very good read. The last, Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, puts a much more personal humanity into the volume. Its is much less political, focusing on the various incidents that make up a life lived in the shadow of the politics of colour, rather than a comment or analysis of such politics. All in all Three Negro Classics reaches for the breadth of African-American experience, and considering there are only 3 books, covers it very well. Absolutely fantastic collection of books, couldn't be better, 17 Jan 2001
I would recommend this book if you have any interest in American history. the variety of the stories is intense and it really opens your eyes to the events whcih really happened a century ago. R E A D T H I S B O O K ! ! !, 22 Jul 1998
It will open your eyes to truths hidden for decades. Malcolm X made me see what crimes to humanity my race (yes i'm white) has comitted. But it goes deeper than that. There are civil right movements in all the countries of the world, and this book inspires and reminds us of what HAS TO BE DONE! I love it!
An excellent sampling of King's writings and ideas., 31 Mar 1999
After having read quite abit by and About King over the years, I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they were new to King's philosophies and ideas or a veteran of the movement he helped to create within this country and the world.
good start for beginners, 21 Feb 2008
this is a good start for those who no nothing of black history, the format is very easy to read as it is illustrated,which is a very good for teenagers.
the content is more for american black history,but useful for those of us in the uk
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Customer Reviews
Cheap, durable, interesting, 22 Aug 2004
This book encompasses a wide range of experiences and attitudes shared by African-Americans from Emanicipation through Reconstruction and into the 20th century as articulated by the greatest figures of the time. What's better, for the cheap amongst us (I include myself in this), it sells for a very low price given that includes 3 great classics. Plus, it's good to take traveling as it comes in a compact but durable paperback. Essential reading for anyone interested in African-American history. Up from Slavery however stands by itself as essential reading for everyone. Booker T. Washington writes not as a great 'Negro' American, or even simply as a great American, but as a great humanitarian. It is an inspiring text, outstanding even next to the culture bomb that is The Souls of Black Folks. The second book reads like poetry or classical literature because the author was such a well educated man and, unlike Up From Slavery, reads from a distinctly Negro standpoint. In my opinion, it is a little overwritten and drags in the middle but still a very good read. The last, Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, puts a much more personal humanity into the volume. Its is much less political, focusing on the various incidents that make up a life lived in the shadow of the politics of colour, rather than a comment or analysis of such politics. All in all Three Negro Classics reaches for the breadth of African-American experience, and considering there are only 3 books, covers it very well. Absolutely fantastic collection of books, couldn't be better, 17 Jan 2001
I would recommend this book if you have any interest in American history. the variety of the stories is intense and it really opens your eyes to the events whcih really happened a century ago. R E A D T H I S B O O K ! ! !, 22 Jul 1998
It will open your eyes to truths hidden for decades. Malcolm X made me see what crimes to humanity my race (yes i'm white) has comitted. But it goes deeper than that. There are civil right movements in all the countries of the world, and this book inspires and reminds us of what HAS TO BE DONE! I love it!
An excellent sampling of King's writings and ideas., 31 Mar 1999
After having read quite abit by and About King over the years, I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they were new to King's philosophies and ideas or a veteran of the movement he helped to create within this country and the world.
good start for beginners, 21 Feb 2008
this is a good start for those who no nothing of black history, the format is very easy to read as it is illustrated,which is a very good for teenagers.
the content is more for american black history,but useful for those of us in the uk
Valuable and Insightful, 10 Dec 2006
James H Cone's `Martin & Malcolm & America' is an impressive study comparing and contrasting the thoughts and philosophies of the two most important black Americans of the twentieth century. Through his penetrating analysis, Cone shows that there were more similarities between these two men than has often been thought.
The book is, for the most part, organised by comparing the two leader's philosophies on an alternate, chapter by chapter basis. Each chapter focuses on how one of the leaders saw a certain topic (ie, integration or American society) and then comparing it with the other. As the book progresses King and Malcolm's views are increasingly merged - as they were in reality.
Cone does not offer any groundbreaking insights when studying Martin and Malcolm as individuals; there is not much here written on each figure that cannot be found somewhere else. What makes the work important is the way he has intertwined and related their views together, showing that King and Malcolm's careers should not be studied in isolation, as they usually are, but that they are both crucial to understanding the plight of African Americans in the twentieth century, and today.
a great insight on African-American history..., 10 May 2001
Comparing Martin Luther King and Malcom X was a har task to achieve;James H. Cone has wonderfully succeeded.If King is well-known to most people,Malcom X remains quite a mystery to us; Cone clarifies the myth and gives an extrordinary, touching image of both leaders. This book is crucial to anyone who wants to understand the Civil Rights Movement and its link with the apparently opposed Black Power ideology. A must-read!
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Customer Reviews
Cheap, durable, interesting, 22 Aug 2004
This book encompasses a wide range of experiences and attitudes shared by African-Americans from Emanicipation through Reconstruction and into the 20th century as articulated by the greatest figures of the time. What's better, for the cheap amongst us (I include myself in this), it sells for a very low price given that includes 3 great classics. Plus, it's good to take traveling as it comes in a compact but durable paperback. Essential reading for anyone interested in African-American history. Up from Slavery however stands by itself as essential reading for everyone. Booker T. Washington writes not as a great 'Negro' American, or even simply as a great American, but as a great humanitarian. It is an inspiring text, outstanding even next to the culture bomb that is The Souls of Black Folks. The second book reads like poetry or classical literature because the author was such a well educated man and, unlike Up From Slavery, reads from a distinctly Negro standpoint. In my opinion, it is a little overwritten and drags in the middle but still a very good read. The last, Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, puts a much more personal humanity into the volume. Its is much less political, focusing on the various incidents that make up a life lived in the shadow of the politics of colour, rather than a comment or analysis of such politics. All in all Three Negro Classics reaches for the breadth of African-American experience, and considering there are only 3 books, covers it very well. Absolutely fantastic collection of books, couldn't be better, 17 Jan 2001
I would recommend this book if you have any interest in American history. the variety of the stories is intense and it really opens your eyes to the events whcih really happened a century ago. R E A D T H I S B O O K ! ! !, 22 Jul 1998
It will open your eyes to truths hidden for decades. Malcolm X made me see what crimes to humanity my race (yes i'm white) has comitted. But it goes deeper than that. There are civil right movements in all the countries of the world, and this book inspires and reminds us of what HAS TO BE DONE! I love it!
An excellent sampling of King's writings and ideas., 31 Mar 1999
After having read quite abit by and About King over the years, I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they were new to King's philosophies and ideas or a veteran of the movement he helped to create within this country and the world.
good start for beginners, 21 Feb 2008
this is a good start for those who no nothing of black history, the format is very easy to read as it is illustrated,which is a very good for teenagers.
the content is more for american black history,but useful for those of us in the uk
Valuable and Insightful, 10 Dec 2006
James H Cone's `Martin & Malcolm & America' is an impressive study comparing and contrasting the thoughts and philosophies of the two most important black Americans of the twentieth century. Through his penetrating analysis, Cone shows that there were more similarities between these two men than has often been thought.
The book is, for the most part, organised by comparing the two leader's philosophies on an alternate, chapter by chapter basis. Each chapter focuses on how one of the leaders saw a certain topic (ie, integration or American society) and then comparing it with the other. As the book progresses King and Malcolm's views are increasingly merged - as they were in reality.
Cone does not offer any groundbreaking insights when studying Martin and Malcolm as individuals; there is not much here written on each figure that cannot be found somewhere else. What makes the work important is the way he has intertwined and related their views together, showing that King and Malcolm's careers should not be studied in isolation, as they usually are, but that they are both crucial to understanding the plight of African Americans in the twentieth century, and today.
a great insight on African-American history..., 10 May 2001
Comparing Martin Luther King and Malcom X was a har task to achieve;James H. Cone has wonderfully succeeded.If King is well-known to most people,Malcom X remains quite a mystery to us; Cone clarifies the myth and gives an extrordinary, touching image of both leaders. This book is crucial to anyone who wants to understand the Civil Rights Movement and its link with the apparently opposed Black Power ideology. A must-read!
Longevity Has Its Place, 02 Jul 2006
In At Canaan's Edge, the concluding volume of Taylor Branch's magisterial study of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.A between 1954 and 1968, the focus is on the period framed by the march on Montgomery and Martin Luther King's assassination in Memphis: a time span of scarcely more than 3 years, but one full of keynote legislation, clashing ideologies and shattered promises, where triumph and despair became familiar companions. Here we find King endeavouring to deploy the non violent methods honed in struggles across the Deep South on a nationwide crusade for social justice and peace in Vietnam. This is old fashioned storytelling history at its best, which by interweaving the roles of individuals and mass movements creates a narrative which places set piece confrontations like Pettus Bridge and the Watts riots within a broader historical context. Branch is a reliable guide, his grasp of detail and breadth of approach couched within readable prose equally suited to drawing out the drama of a King speech or a Klan murder.
Branch is particularly strong on highlighting the root causes of the increasing divisions within Civil Rights Organizations, the developing pride in Black identity and the emergence of groups like the Panthers alongside official attempts to compromise King's practice of peaceful protest. As events move towards their tragic denouement on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, we are left in no doubt that the assassin's bullet killed an agenda and not just a leader. However, ironically it is the counterpoint account of the decline and fall of the most progressive post-war America administration led by Lyndon Johnson that packs equal punch. As Johnson's vision of The Great Society is undermined by burgeoning military estimates and a conservative backlash, Branch's prose becomes an anguished threnody to American Liberalism. The fortunes of King and Johnson are shown to have startling parallels not least in their increasing isolation from their own constituencies.
This final instalment is a worthy conclusion to a trilogy which probably represents the best single study of a momentous period in American history. Here is a book which compels the reader to reflect on the moral, political and ethical dilemmas it so effectively dissects. Strongly recommended to all those with an interest in history or the shaping of the contemporary United States.
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Customer Reviews
Cheap, durable, interesting, 22 Aug 2004
This book encompasses a wide range of experiences and attitudes shared by African-Americans from Emanicipation through Reconstruction and into the 20th century as articulated by the greatest figures of the time. What's better, for the cheap amongst us (I include myself in this), it sells for a very low price given that includes 3 great classics. Plus, it's good to take traveling as it comes in a compact but durable paperback. Essential reading for anyone interested in African-American history. Up from Slavery however stands by itself as essential reading for everyone. Booker T. Washington writes not as a great 'Negro' American, or even simply as a great American, but as a great humanitarian. It is an inspiring text, outstanding even next to the culture bomb that is The Souls of Black Folks. The second book reads like poetry or classical literature because the author was such a well educated man and, unlike Up From Slavery, reads from a distinctly Negro standpoint. In my opinion, it is a little overwritten and drags in the middle but still a very good read. The last, Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, puts a much more personal humanity into the volume. Its is much less political, focusing on the various incidents that make up a life lived in the shadow of the politics of colour, rather than a comment or analysis of such politics. All in all Three Negro Classics reaches for the breadth of African-American experience, and considering there are only 3 books, covers it very well. Absolutely fantastic collection of books, couldn't be better, 17 Jan 2001
I would recommend this book if you have any interest in American history. the variety of the stories is intense and it really opens your eyes to the events whcih really happened a century ago. R E A D T H I S B O O K ! ! !, 22 Jul 1998
It will open your eyes to truths hidden for decades. Malcolm X made me see what crimes to humanity my race (yes i'm white) has comitted. But it goes deeper than that. There are civil right movements in all the countries of the world, and this book inspires and reminds us of what HAS TO BE DONE! I love it!
An excellent sampling of King's writings and ideas., 31 Mar 1999
After having read quite abit by and About King over the years, I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they were new to King's philosophies and ideas or a veteran of the movement he helped to create within this country and the world.
good start for beginners, 21 Feb 2008
this is a good start for those who no nothing of black history, the format is very easy to read as it is illustrated,which is a very good for teenagers.
the content is more for american black history,but useful for those of us in the uk
Valuable and Insightful, 10 Dec 2006
James H Cone's `Martin & Malcolm & America' is an impressive study comparing and contrasting the thoughts and philosophies of the two most important black Americans of the twentieth century. Through his penetrating analysis, Cone shows that there were more similarities between these two men than has often been thought.
The book is, for the most part, organised by comparing the two leader's philosophies on an alternate, chapter by chapter basis. Each chapter focuses on how one of the leaders saw a certain topic (ie, integration or American society) and then comparing it with the other. As the book progresses King and Malcolm's views are increasingly merged - as they were in reality.
Cone does not offer any groundbreaking insights when studying Martin and Malcolm as individuals; there is not much here written on each figure that cannot be found somewhere else. What makes the work important is the way he has intertwined and related their views together, showing that King and Malcolm's careers should not be studied in isolation, as they usually are, but that they are both crucial to understanding the plight of African Americans in the twentieth century, and today.
a great insight on African-American history..., 10 May 2001
Comparing Martin Luther King and Malcom X was a har task to achieve;James H. Cone has wonderfully succeeded.If King is well-known to most people,Malcom X remains quite a mystery to us; Cone clarifies the myth and gives an extrordinary, touching image of both leaders. This book is crucial to anyone who wants to understand the Civil Rights Movement and its link with the apparently opposed Black Power ideology. A must-read!
Longevity Has Its Place, 02 Jul 2006
In At Canaan's Edge, the concluding volume of Taylor Branch's magisterial study of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.A between 1954 and 1968, the focus is on the period framed by the march on Montgomery and Martin Luther King's assassination in Memphis: a time span of scarcely more than 3 years, but one full of keynote legislation, clashing ideologies and shattered promises, where triumph and despair became familiar companions. Here we find King endeavouring to deploy the non violent methods honed in struggles across the Deep South on a nationwide crusade for social justice and peace in Vietnam. This is old fashioned storytelling history at its best, which by interweaving the roles of individuals and mass movements creates a narrative which places set piece confrontations like Pettus Bridge and the Watts riots within a broader historical context. Branch is a reliable guide, his grasp of detail and breadth of approach couched within readable prose equally suited to drawing out the drama of a King speech or a Klan murder.
Branch is particularly strong on highlighting the root causes of the increasing divisions within Civil Rights Organizations, the developing pride in Black identity and the emergence of groups like the Panthers alongside official attempts to compromise King's practice of peaceful protest. As events move towards their tragic denouement on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, we are left in no doubt that the assassin's bullet killed an agenda and not just a leader. However, ironically it is the counterpoint account of the decline and fall of the most progressive post-war America administration led by Lyndon Johnson that packs equal punch. As Johnson's vision of The Great Society is undermined by burgeoning military estimates and a conservative backlash, Branch's prose becomes an anguished threnody to American Liberalism. The fortunes of King and Johnson are shown to have startling parallels not least in their increasing isolation from their own constituencies.
This final instalment is a worthy conclusion to a trilogy which probably represents the best single study of a momentous period in American history. Here is a book which compels the reader to reflect on the moral, political and ethical dilemmas it so effectively dissects. Strongly recommended to all those with an interest in history or the shaping of the contemporary United States.
An epic and intimate portrait: spell-binding!, 20 Aug 2008
This is one of the most powerful and moving books I've ever read, and I wanted to give it six stars. How here to do it justice?
First, it's a cracking read. (Other history books can be heavy, you keep checking to see how many pages to the end, or left in the chapter). "Parting the Waters" is a real page-turner. It is long -- it kept me going through a long haul flight, lots of airport waiting and a couple of long bus/train rides -- but it made the time pass effortlessly.
It's a great story, structured like a novel: strong central character, you meet him in experienced youth; the hero encounters challenges, and overcomes them and embarks on a long and dangerous journey with many battles and dangers, the hero takes on these battles and grows stronger. This classic plot structure with a real heroic quality makes it a gripping read.
"Parting the Waters" chronicles the grand canvass of the civil rights movement: the major battles (Montgomery bus boycott, the freedom rides, the voter registration drivers, the Birmingham campaign...), the politcal backdrop (Kennedy's election, Kennedy's Presidency, the dilemmas over the Civil Rights bill), all the characters, internal conflicts and under-currents among civil rights organisations and campaigners. But as well it zooms in with tender and intimate portraits on the people at the centre or caught up in the turmoil: how did it affect one of the protestors... or the story of a mother... or of one of the tragic victims.
It's so important: the end of apartheid in the world's biggest democracy. Tenant farmers who tried to register to vote were evicted from their farms. Men and women riding a bus were stoned and fire-bombed. Police officers beat up citizens for fun. Those who tried to testify were shot in the head. And, terribly, so much more.
Parting the Waters makes you live the emotion. I felt dumbfounded at what southern USA was like in the fifties and sixties, inspired by the civil rights campaigners, numbed by the viciousness and brutal violence they faced, in tears at what they had to go through, angry, so angry they had go through it; on the edge of my seat, alert and rivetted, to see what happened next, bewildered by and in despair of the whites' attitudes, in tears again at the protestors' courage, such inspiring and daunting courage.
And Martin Luther King: we see him with all his weaknesses and flaws, but what a giant of a man! What a giant of human history!
This book is being read in 1000 years time and I run out of superlatives.
Anyone who does not give this book 5 stars is crazy!!!, 24 Jul 1999
Taylor Branch presents solid research and keen observation in his first of three books on the civil rights movement. Other than Garrow's "Bearing the Cross," Branch's "Parting" is a triumph in presenting an honest approach of Dr. King. The first book is, and the final two will be, THE historical text of the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's.
One of the best books I've ever read!, 27 May 1999
I purchased this because I am interested in King, the Civil Rights Movement and because I grew up during this timeframe and wanted to know more. I was a bit apprehensive when I saw the size of the book and worried it would be a drudge, but nothing could have been further from the truth. I find I look forward to reading it each night and can't put it down, but at the same time I don't want it to end. I am almost finished with it and have purchased the second book so I can continue (and I was really glad to hear this is a trilogy). I can't recommend this book enough. And I talk to everyone about it. It is an important work and a pure joy to read. Thank you Mr. Branch!
It changed my life, 02 Oct 1998
I first read PARTING THE WATERS 9 years ago. Since then I have read it again. And I have to say it is one of the best books ever written. The Pulitzer Prize was well deserved. The research and heart Mr. Branch has sewn into this beautiful story is amazing. And it's all true. I have just started on PILLAR OF FIRE, the 2nd part of the trilogy. I can't wait.
An engrossing summary, 27 Jun 1998
When I picked up this book I wasn't particularly interested in Martin Luther King. I wanted to find out more about the Civil Rights era. For someone of my generation (30ish), I was only vaguely aware of the major events of the civil rights movement. This book has a series of excellent narratives detailing some of the major events of the movement (bus boycott, freedom rides) that were vivid and disturbing. I was moved by the passion of the peaople involved on both sides of the color line.
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Customer Reviews
Cheap, durable, interesting, 22 Aug 2004
This book encompasses a wide range of experiences and attitudes shared by African-Americans from Emanicipation through Reconstruction and into the 20th century as articulated by the greatest figures of the time. What's better, for the cheap amongst us (I include myself in this), it sells for a very low price given that includes 3 great classics. Plus, it's good to take traveling as it comes in a compact but durable paperback. Essential reading for anyone interested in African-American history. Up from Slavery however stands by itself as essential reading for everyone. Booker T. Washington writes not as a great 'Negro' American, or even simply as a great American, but as a great humanitarian. It is an inspiring text, outstanding even next to the culture bomb that is The Souls of Black Folks. The second book reads like poetry or classical literature because the author was such a well educated man and, unlike Up From Slavery, reads from a distinctly Negro standpoint. In my opinion, it is a little overwritten and drags in the middle but still a very good read. The last, Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, puts a much more personal humanity into the volume. Its is much less political, focusing on the various incidents that make up a life lived in the shadow of the politics of colour, rather than a comment or analysis of such politics. All in all Three Negro Classics reaches for the breadth of African-American experience, and considering there are only 3 books, covers it very well. Absolutely fantastic collection of books, couldn't be better, 17 Jan 2001
I would recommend this book if you have any interest in American history. the variety of the stories is intense and it really opens your eyes to the events whcih really happened a century ago. R E A D T H I S B O O K ! ! !, 22 Jul 1998
It will open your eyes to truths hidden for decades. Malcolm X made me see what crimes to humanity my race (yes i'm white) has comitted. But it goes deeper than that. There are civil right movements in all the countries of the world, and this book inspires and reminds us of what HAS TO BE DONE! I love it!
An excellent sampling of King's writings and ideas., 31 Mar 1999
After having read quite abit by and About King over the years, I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they were new to King's philosophies and ideas or a veteran of the movement he helped to create within this country and the world.
good start for beginners, 21 Feb 2008
this is a good start for those who no nothing of black history, the format is very easy to read as it is illustrated,which is a very good for teenagers.
the content is more for american black history,but useful for those of us in the uk
Valuable and Insightful, 10 Dec 2006
James H Cone's `Martin & Malcolm & America' is an impressive study comparing and contrasting the thoughts and philosophies of the two most important black Americans of the twentieth century. Through his penetrating analysis, Cone shows that there were more similarities between these two men than has often been thought.
The book is, for the most part, organised by comparing the two leader's philosophies on an alternate, chapter by chapter basis. Each chapter focuses on how one of the leaders saw a certain topic (ie, integration or American society) and then comparing it with the other. As the book progresses King and Malcolm's views are increasingly merged - as they were in reality.
Cone does not offer any groundbreaking insights when studying Martin and Malcolm as individuals; there is not much here written on each figure that cannot be found somewhere else. What makes the work important is the way he has intertwined and related their views together, showing that King and Malcolm's careers should not be studied in isolation, as they usually are, but that they are both crucial to understanding the plight of African Americans in the twentieth century, and today.
a great insight on African-American history..., 10 May 2001
Comparing Martin Luther King and Malcom X was a har task to achieve;James H. Cone has wonderfully succeeded.If King is well-known to most people,Malcom X remains quite a mystery to us; Cone clarifies the myth and gives an extrordinary, touching image of both leaders. This book is crucial to anyone who wants to understand the Civil Rights Movement and its link with the apparently opposed Black Power ideology. A must-read!
Longevity Has Its Place, 02 Jul 2006
In At Canaan's Edge, the concluding volume of Taylor Branch's magisterial study of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.A between 1954 and 1968, the focus is on the period framed by the march on Montgomery and Martin Luther King's assassination in Memphis: a time span of scarcely more than 3 years, but one full of keynote legislation, clashing ideologies and shattered promises, where triumph and despair became familiar companions. Here we find King endeavouring to deploy the non violent methods honed in struggles across the Deep South on a nationwide crusade for social justice and peace in Vietnam. This is old fashioned storytelling history at its best, which by interweaving the roles of individuals and mass movements creates a narrative which places set piece confrontations like Pettus Bridge and the Watts riots within a broader historical context. Branch is a reliable guide, his grasp of detail and breadth of approach couched within readable prose equally suited to drawing out the drama of a King speech or a Klan murder.
Branch is particularly strong on highlighting the root causes of the increasing divisions within Civil Rights Organizations, the developing pride in Black identity and the emergence of groups like the Panthers alongside official attempts to compromise King's practice of peaceful protest. As events move towards their tragic denouement on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, we are left in no doubt that the assassin's bullet killed an agenda and not just a leader. However, ironically it is the counterpoint account of the decline and fall of the most progressive post-war America administration led by Lyndon Johnson that packs equal punch. As Johnson's vision of The Great Society is undermined by burgeoning military estimates and a conservative backlash, Branch's prose becomes an anguished threnody to American Liberalism. The fortunes of King and Johnson are shown to have startling parallels not least in their increasing isolation from their own constituencies.
This final instalment is a worthy conclusion to a trilogy which probably represents the best single study of a momentous period in American history. Here is a book which compels the reader to reflect on the moral, political and ethical dilemmas it so effectively dissects. Strongly recommended to all those with an interest in history or the shaping of the contemporary United States.
An epic and intimate portrait: spell-binding!, 20 Aug 2008
This is one of the most powerful and moving books I've ever read, and I wanted to give it six stars. How here to do it justice?
First, it's a cracking read. (Other history books can be heavy, you keep checking to see how many pages to the end, or left in the chapter). "Parting the Waters" is a real page-turner. It is long -- it kept me going through a long haul flight, lots of airport waiting and a couple of long bus/train rides -- but it made the time pass effortlessly.
It's a great story, structured like a novel: strong central character, you meet him in experienced youth; the hero encounters challenges, and overcomes them and embarks on a long and dangerous journey with many battles and dangers, the hero takes on these battles and grows stronger. This classic plot structure with a real heroic quality makes it a gripping read.
"Parting the Waters" chronicles the grand canvass of the civil rights movement: the major battles (Montgomery bus boycott, the freedom rides, the voter registration drivers, the Birmingham campaign...), the politcal backdrop (Kennedy's election, Kennedy's Presidency, the dilemmas over the Civil Rights bill), all the characters, internal conflicts and under-currents among civil rights organisations and campaigners. But as well it zooms in with tender and intimate portraits on the people at the centre or caught up in the turmoil: how did it affect one of the protestors... or the story of a mother... or of one of the tragic victims.
It's so important: the end of apartheid in the world's biggest democracy. Tenant farmers who tried to register to vote were evicted from their farms. Men and women riding a bus were stoned and fire-bombed. Police officers beat up citizens for fun. Those who tried to testify were shot in the head. And, terribly, so much more.
Parting the Waters makes you live the emotion. I felt dumbfounded at what southern USA was like in the fifties and sixties, inspired by the civil rights campaigners, numbed by the viciousness and brutal violence they faced, in tears at what they had to go through, angry, so angry they had go through it; on the edge of my seat, alert and rivetted, to see what happened next, bewildered by and in despair of the whites' attitudes, in tears again at the protestors' courage, such inspiring and daunting courage.
And Martin Luther King: we see him with all his weaknesses and flaws, but what a giant of a man! What a giant of human history!
This book is being read in 1000 years time and I run out of superlatives.
Anyone who does not give this book 5 stars is crazy!!!, 24 Jul 1999
Taylor Branch presents solid research and keen observation in his first of three books on the civil rights movement. Other than Garrow's "Bearing the Cross," Branch's "Parting" is a triumph in presenting an honest approach of Dr. King. The first book is, and the final two will be, THE historical text of the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's.
One of the best books I've ever read!, 27 May 1999
I purchased this because I am interested in King, the Civil Rights Movement and because I grew up during this timeframe and wanted to know more. I was a bit apprehensive when I saw the size of the book and worried it would be a drudge, but nothing could have been further from the truth. I find I look forward to reading it each night and can't put it down, but at the same time I don't want it to end. I am almost finished with it and have purchased the second book so I can continue (and I was really glad to hear this is a trilogy). I can't recommend this book enough. And I talk to everyone about it. It is an important work and a pure joy to read. Thank you Mr. Branch!
It changed my life, 02 Oct 1998
I first read PARTING THE WATERS 9 years ago. Since then I have read it again. And I have to say it is one of the best books ever written. The Pulitzer Prize was well deserved. The research and heart Mr. Branch has sewn into this beautiful story is amazing. And it's all true. I have just started on PILLAR OF FIRE, the 2nd part of the trilogy. I can't wait.
An engrossing summary, 27 Jun 1998
When I picked up this book I wasn't particularly interested in Martin Luther King. I wanted to find out more about the Civil Rights era. For someone of my generation (30ish), I was only vaguely aware of the major events of the civil rights movement. This book has a series of excellent narratives detailing some of the major events of the movement (bus boycott, freedom rides) that were vivid and disturbing. I was moved by the passion of the peaople involved on both sides of the color line.
An informative introduction to the civil rights mov, 21 Jun 2001
This book offers an acessible and informative introduction to the black civil right movement in America from emancipation to Rodney King and the LA race riots. Verney provides a concise overview of the period focussing on key individuals and leaders; black political movements; crucial legal and political developments; and the portrayal of African Americans in popular culture. By placing the civil rights movement in the wider context of American history, Verney is able to highlight key turning points and developments, their causes and consequences. Verney writes clearly and authoritatively on the subject and makes use of the latest scholarship in African American history. This text will provide an invaluable introduction to the subject for both the undergraduate and the casual reader. It will also be a valuable aid to further education students covering this subject for the first time.
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Product Description
Pillar of Fire is the second volume of Taylor Branch's magisterial three-volume history of America during the life of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Branch's thesis, as he explains in the introduction, is that "King's life is the best and most important metaphor for American history in the watershed postwar years." But this is not just a biography. Instead it is a work of history, with King at its focal point. The tumultuous years that Branch covers saw the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the beginnings of American disillusionment with the war in Vietnam, and, of course, the civil rights movement that King led, a movement that transformed America as the nation finally tried to live up to the ideals on which it was founded.
Customer Reviews
Cheap, durable, interesting, 22 Aug 2004
This book encompasses a wide range of experiences and attitudes shared by African-Americans from Emanicipation through Reconstruction and into the 20th century as articulated by the greatest figures of the time. What's better, for the cheap amongst us (I include myself in this), it sells for a very low price given that includes 3 great classics. Plus, it's good to take traveling as it comes in a compact but durable paperback. Essential reading for anyone interested in African-American history. Up from Slavery however stands by itself as essential reading for everyone. Booker T. Washington writes not as a great 'Negro' American, or even simply as a great American, but as a great humanitarian. It is an inspiring text, outstanding even next to the culture bomb that is The Souls of Black Folks. The second book reads like poetry or classical literature because the author was such a well educated man and, unlike Up From Slavery, reads from a distinctly Negro standpoint. In my opinion, it is a little overwritten and drags in the middle but still a very good read. The last, Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, puts a much more personal humanity into the volume. Its is much less political, focusing on the various incidents that make up a life lived in the shadow of the politics of colour, rather than a comment or analysis of such politics. All in all Three Negro Classics reaches for the breadth of African-American experience, and considering there are only 3 books, covers it very well. Absolutely fantastic collection of books, couldn't be better, 17 Jan 2001
I would recommend this book if you have any interest in American history. the variety of the stories is intense and it really opens your eyes to the events whcih really happened a century ago. R E A D T H I S B O O K ! ! !, 22 Jul 1998
It will open your eyes to truths hidden for decades. Malcolm X made me see what crimes to humanity my race (yes i'm white) has comitted. But it goes deeper than that. There are civil right movements in all the countries of the world, and this book inspires and reminds us of what HAS TO BE DONE! I love it!
An excellent sampling of King's writings and ideas., 31 Mar 1999
After having read quite abit by and About King over the years, I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they were new to King's philosophies and ideas or a veteran of the movement he helped to create within this country and the world.
good start for beginners, 21 Feb 2008
this is a good start for those who no nothing of black history, the format is very easy to read as it is illustrated,which is a very good for teenagers.
the content is more for american black history,but useful for those of us in the uk
Valuable and Insightful, 10 Dec 2006
James H Cone's `Martin & Malcolm & America' is an impressive study comparing and contrasting the thoughts and philosophies of the two most important black Americans of the twentieth century. Through his penetrating analysis, Cone shows that there were more similarities between these two men than has often been thought.
The book is, for the most part, organised by comparing the two leader's philosophies on an alternate, chapter by chapter basis. Each chapter focuses on how one of the leaders saw a certain topic (ie, integration or American society) and then comparing it with the other. As the book progresses King and Malcolm's views are increasingly merged - as they were in reality.
Cone does not offer any groundbreaking insights when studying Martin and Malcolm as individuals; there is not much here written on each figure that cannot be found somewhere else. What makes the work important is the way he has intertwined and related their views together, showing that King and Malcolm's careers should not be studied in isolation, as they usually are, but that they are both crucial to understanding the plight of African Americans in the twentieth century, and today.
a great insight on African-American history..., 10 May 2001
Comparing Martin Luther King and Malcom X was a har task to achieve;James H. Cone has wonderfully succeeded.If King is well-known to most people,Malcom X remains quite a mystery to us; Cone clarifies the myth and gives an extrordinary, touching image of both leaders. This book is crucial to anyone who wants to understand the Civil Rights Movement and its link with the apparently opposed Black Power ideology. A must-read!
Longevity Has Its Place, 02 Jul 2006
In At Canaan's Edge, the concluding volume of Taylor Branch's magisterial study of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.A between 1954 and 1968, the focus is on the period framed by the march on Montgomery and Martin Luther King's assassination in Memphis: a time span of scarcely more than 3 years, but one full of keynote legislation, clashing ideologies and shattered promises, where triumph and despair became familiar companions. Here we find King endeavouring to deploy the non violent methods honed in struggles across the Deep South on a nationwide crusade for social justice and peace in Vietnam. This is old fashioned storytelling history at its best, which by interweaving the roles of individuals and mass movements creates a narrative which places set piece confrontations like Pettus Bridge and the Watts riots within a broader historical context. Branch is a reliable guide, his grasp of detail and breadth of approach couched within readable prose equally suited to drawing out the drama of a King speech or a Klan murder.
Branch is particularly strong on highlighting the root causes of the increasing divisions within Civil Rights Organizations, the developing pride in Black identity and the emergence of groups like the Panthers alongside official attempts to compromise King's practice of peaceful protest. As events move towards their tragic denouement on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, we are left in no doubt that the assassin's bullet killed an agenda and not just a leader. However, ironically it is the counterpoint account of the decline and fall of the most progressive post-war America administration led by Lyndon Johnson that packs equal punch. As Johnson's vision of The Great Society is undermined by burgeoning military estimates and a conservative backlash, Branch's prose becomes an anguished threnody to American Liberalism. The fortunes of King and Johnson are shown to have startling parallels not least in their increasing isolation from their own constituencies.
This final instalment is a worthy conclusion to a trilogy which probably represents the best single study of a momentous period in American history. Here is a book which compels the reader to reflect on the moral, political and ethical dilemmas it so effectively dissects. Strongly recommended to all those with an interest in history or the shaping of the contemporary United States.
An epic and intimate portrait: spell-binding!, 20 Aug 2008
This is one of the most powerful and moving books I've ever read, and I wanted to give it six stars. How here to do it justice?
First, it's a cracking read. (Other history books can be heavy, you keep checking to see how many pages to the end, or left in the chapter). "Parting the Waters" is a real page-turner. It is long -- it kept me going through a long haul flight, lots of airport waiting and a couple of long bus/train rides -- but it made the time pass effortlessly.
It's a great story, structured like a novel: strong central character, you meet him in experienced youth; the hero encounters challenges, and overcomes them and embarks on a long and dangerous journey with many battles and dangers, the hero takes on these battles and grows stronger. This classic plot structure with a real heroic quality makes it a gripping read.
"Parting the Waters" chronicles the grand canvass of the civil rights movement: the major battles (Montgomery bus boycott, the freedom rides, the voter registration drivers, the Birmingham campaign...), the politcal backdrop (Kennedy's election, Kennedy's Presidency, the dilemmas over the Civil Rights bill), all the characters, internal conflicts and under-currents among civil rights organisations and campaigners. But as well it zooms in with tender and intimate portraits on the people at the centre or caught up in the turmoil: how did it affect one of the protestors... or the story of a mother... or of one of the tragic victims.
It's so important: the end of apartheid in the world's biggest democracy. Tenant farmers who tried to register to vote were evicted from their farms. Men and women riding a bus were stoned and fire-bombed. Police officers beat up citizens for fun. Those who tried to testify were shot in the head. And, terribly, so much more.
Parting the Waters makes you live the emotion. I felt dumbfounded at what southern USA was like in the fifties and sixties, inspired by the civil rights campaigners, numbed by the viciousness and brutal violence they faced, in tears at what they had to go through, angry, so angry they had go through it; on the edge of my seat, alert and rivetted, to see what happened next, bewildered by and in despair of the whites' attitudes, in tears again at the protestors' courage, such inspiring and daunting courage.
And Martin Luther King: we see him with all his weaknesses and flaws, but what a giant of a man! What a giant of human history!
This book is being read in 1000 years time and I run out of superlatives.
Anyone who does not give this book 5 stars is crazy!!!, 24 Jul 1999
Taylor Branch presents solid research and keen observation in his first of three books on the civil rights movement. Other than Garrow's "Bearing the Cross," Branch's "Parting" is a triumph in presenting an honest approach of Dr. King. The first book is, and the final two will be, THE historical text of the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's.
One of the best books I've ever read!, 27 May 1999
I purchased this because I am interested in King, the Civil Rights Movement and because I grew up during this timeframe and wanted to know more. I was a bit apprehensive when I saw the size of the book and worried it would be a drudge, but nothing could have been further from the truth. I find I look forward to reading it each night and can't put it down, but at the same time I don't want it to end. I am almost finished with it and have purchased the second book so I can continue (and I was really glad to hear this is a trilogy). I can't recommend this book enough. And I talk to everyone about it. It is an important work and a pure joy to read. Thank you Mr. Branch!
It changed my life, 02 Oct 1998
I first read PARTING THE WATERS 9 years ago. Since then I have read it again. And I have to say it is one of the best books ever written. The Pulitzer Prize was well deserved. The research and heart Mr. Branch has sewn into this beautiful story is amazing. And it's all true. I have just started on PILLAR OF FIRE, the 2nd part of the trilogy. I can't wait.
An engrossing summary, 27 Jun 1998
When I picked up this book I wasn't particularly interested in Martin Luther King. I wanted to find out more about the Civil Rights era. For someone of my generation (30ish), I was only vaguely aware of the major events of the civil rights movement. This book has a series of excellent narratives detailing some of the major events of the movement (bus boycott, freedom rides) that were vivid and disturbing. I was moved by the passion of the peaople involved on both sides of the color line.
An informative introduction to the civil rights mov, 21 Jun 2001
This book offers an acessible and informative introduction to the black civil right movement in America from emancipation to Rodney King and the LA race riots. Verney provides a concise overview of the period focussing on key individuals and leaders; black political movements; crucial legal and political developments; and the portrayal of African Americans in popular culture. By placing the civil rights movement in the wider context of American history, Verney is able to highlight key turning points and developments, their causes and consequences. Verney writes clearly and authoritatively on the subject and makes use of the latest scholarship in African American history. This text will provide an invaluable introduction to the subject for both the undergraduate and the casual reader. It will also be a valuable aid to further education students covering this subject for the first time.
A thorough and fascnating historical review, 06 Jul 1999
This book not only covers the height of King's work, but also the events surrounding the assassination of Malcolm X with great detail. Read this, and you might begin to doubt Spike Lee's version of events in his 1992 film on Malcolm X. This is not supposed to be a novel. It is not an easy read. This is NOT a watered down history book. People who want the light stuff, please refer to the books by Tom Brokaw or William Bennett.
Read this book., 03 Jul 1999
One customer-reviewer (pjdecaprio@bkb.com) kindly left this on a plane for someone else to find. Lucky for that person. The first 40 pages alone are worth the price of the book, to get a deep understanding of how small events and misunderstandings can get blown out of proportion to tragic consequenses. I certainly did not expect this to read like a novel. I anticipated a rich, informed description of one of the most significant periods in contemporary history, and was amply rewarded by Mr. Branch's work. He is obviously passionate about the subject, but maintains detachment. And only by reading Representative John Lewis's book, "Walking with the Wind", did I come to know of Mr. Branch's involvement in the movement. He doesn't toot his own horn, but rather gives a wonderfully rich, compellingly written, moving account of one of the USA's greatest social achievments. Thank you, Mr. Branch. Now, finish up the third one!
Monumental research, but writing could be better, 08 Apr 1999
This book addresses subjects which should be known to all Americans, such as the FBI's underhanded efforts to discredit Martin Luther King, Jr., and the unlawful interference by elected officials with African-Americans' right to vote. The author clearly put monumental work into researching this book and his prior volume, Parting the Waters. Unfortunately, the obscure writing style and the inclusion of many details of limited relevance make the book a chore to read.
fascinating tho not quite as good as Parting the Waters, 01 Feb 1999
This is a book which will catch you up, no matter how familiar you are with the events it relates. It pays more attention to Malcolm X than the standard news accounts of the period did, but that story is great interest--tho one doesn't think it did much for the goals that King and his fellow workers had.
Mr Branch loses his way, 05 Jan 1999
Parting The Waters won the Pulitzer Prize, and deservedly so. But whereas PTW starts slowly (with Dr. King's upbringing, education, and entry into public life) and builds to the the Children's March (as heart-wrenching as any battlefield story), "Pillar" seems to wander aimlessly through the next two years without much emotional involvement. The events leading up to the assasination of Malcom X are matter-of-fact, and the deed itself is almost an afterthought. Having said all that, "Pillar" is still an excellent account of those years, just not the brilliant narrative its predecessor was.
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Customer Reviews
Cheap, durable, interesting, 22 Aug 2004
This book encompasses a wide range of experiences and attitudes shared by African-Americans from Emanicipation through Reconstruction and into the 20th century as articulated by the greatest figures of the time. What's better, for the cheap amongst us (I include myself in this), it sells for a very low price given that includes 3 great classics. Plus, it's good to take traveling as it comes in a compact but durable paperback. Essential reading for anyone interested in African-American history. Up from Slavery however stands by itself as essential reading for everyone. Booker T. Washington writes not as a great 'Negro' American, or even simply as a great American, but as a great humanitarian. It is an inspiring text, outstanding even next to the culture bomb that is The Souls of Black Folks. The second book reads like poetry or classical literature because the author was such a well educated man and, unlike Up From Slavery, reads from a distinctly Negro standpoint. In my opinion, it is a little overwritten and drags in the middle but still a very good read. The last, Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, puts a much more personal humanity into the volume. Its is much less political, focusing on the various incidents that make up a life lived in the shadow of the politics of colour, rather than a comment or analysis of such politics. All in all Three Negro Classics reaches for the breadth of African-American experience, and considering there are only 3 books, covers it very well. Absolutely fantastic collection of books, couldn't be better, 17 Jan 2001
I would recommend this book if you have any interest in American history. the variety of the stories is intense and it really opens your eyes to the events whcih really happened a century ago. R E A D T H I S B O O K ! ! !, 22 Jul 1998
It will open your eyes to truths hidden for decades. Malcolm X made me see what crimes to humanity my race (yes i'm white) has comitted. But it goes deeper than that. There are civil right movements in all the countries of the world, and this book inspires and reminds us of what HAS TO BE DONE! I love it!
An excellent sampling of King's writings and ideas., 31 Mar 1999
After having read quite abit by and About King over the years, I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they were new to King's philosophies and ideas or a veteran of the movement he helped to create within this country and the world.
good start for beginners, 21 Feb 2008
this is a good start for those who no nothing of black history, the format is very easy to read as it is illustrated,which is a very good for teenagers.
the content is more for american black history,but useful for those of us in the uk
Valuable and Insightful, 10 Dec 2006
James H Cone's `Martin & Malcolm & America' is an impressive study comparing and contrasting the thoughts and philosophies of the two most important black Americans of the twentieth century. Through his penetrating analysis, Cone shows that there were more similarities between these two men than has often been thought.
The book is, for the most part, organised by comparing the two leader's philosophies on an alternate, chapter by chapter basis. Each chapter focuses on how one of the leaders saw a certain topic (ie, integration or American society) and then comparing it with the other. As the book progresses King and Malcolm's views are increasingly merged - as they were in reality.
Cone does not offer any groundbreaking insights when studying Martin and Malcolm as individuals; there is not much here written on each figure that cannot be found somewhere else. What makes the work important is the way he has intertwined and related their views together, showing that King and Malcolm's careers should not be studied in isolation, as they usually are, but that they are both crucial to understanding the plight of African Americans in the twentieth century, and today.
a great insight on African-American history..., 10 May 2001
Comparing Martin Luther King and Malcom X was a har task to achieve;James H. Cone has wonderfully succeeded.If King is well-known to most people,Malcom X remains quite a mystery to us; Cone clarifies the myth and gives an extrordinary, touching image of both leaders. This book is crucial to anyone who wants to understand the Civil Rights Movement and its link with the apparently opposed Black Power ideology. A must-read!
Longevity Has Its Place, 02 Jul 2006
In At Canaan's Edge, the concluding volume of Taylor Branch's magisterial study of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.A between 1954 and 1968, the focus is on the period framed by the march on Montgomery and Martin Luther King's assassination in Memphis: a time span of scarcely more than 3 years, but one full of keynote legislation, clashing ideologies and shattered promises, where triumph and despair became familiar companions. Here we find King endeavouring to deploy the non violent methods honed in struggles across the Deep South on a nationwide crusade for social justice and peace in Vietnam. This is old fashioned storytelling history at its best, which by interweaving the roles of individuals and mass movements creates a narrative which places set piece confrontations like Pettus Bridge and the Watts riots within a broader historical context. Branch is a reliable guide, his grasp of detail and breadth of approach couched within readable prose equally suited to drawing out the drama of a King speech or a Klan murder.
Branch is particularly strong on highlighting the root causes of the increasing divisions within Civil Rights Organizations, the developing pride in Black identity and the emergence of groups like the Panthers alongside official attempts to compromise King's practice of peaceful protest. As events move towards their tragic denouement on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, we are left in no doubt that the assassin's bullet killed an agenda and not just a leader. However, ironically it is the counterpoint account of the decline and fall of the most progressive post-war America administration led by Lyndon Johnson that packs equal punch. As Johnson's vision of The Great Society is undermined by burgeoning military estimates and a conservative backlash, Branch's prose becomes an anguished threnody to American Liberalism. The fortunes of King and Johnson are shown to have startling parallels not least in their increasing isolation from their own constituencies.
This final instalment is a worthy conclusion to a trilogy which probably represents the best single study of a momentous period in American history. Here is a book which compels the reader to reflect on the moral, political and ethical dilemmas it so effectively dissects. Strongly recommended to all those with an interest in history or the shaping of the contemporary United States.
An epic and intimate portrait: spell-binding!, 20 Aug 2008
This is one of the most powerful and moving books I've ever read, and I wanted to give it six stars. How here to do it justice?
First, it's a cracking read. (Other history books can be heavy, you keep checking to see how many pages to the end, or left in the chapter). "Parting the Waters" is a real page-turner. It is long -- it kept me going through a long haul flight, lots of airport waiting and a couple of long bus/train rides -- but it made the time pass effortlessly.
It's a great story, structured like a novel: strong central character, you meet him in experienced youth; the hero encounters challenges, and overcomes them and embarks on a long and dangerous journey with many battles and dangers, the hero takes on these battles and grows stronger. This classic plot structure with a real heroic quality makes it a gripping read.
"Parting the Waters" chronicles the grand canvass of the civil rights movement: the major battles (Montgomery bus boycott, the freedom rides, the voter registration drivers, the Birmingham campaign...), the politcal backdrop (Kennedy's election, Kennedy's Presidency, the dilemmas over the Civil Rights bill), all the characters, internal conflicts and under-currents among civil rights organisations and campaigners. But as well it zooms in with tender and intimate portraits on the people at the centre or caught up in the turmoil: how did it affect one of the protestors... or the story of a mother... or of one of the tragic victims.
It's so important: the end of apartheid in the world's biggest democracy. Tenant farmers who tried to register to vote were evicted from their farms. Men and women riding a bus were stoned and fire-bombed. Police officers beat up citizens for fun. Those who tried to testify were shot in the head. And, terribly, so much more.
Parting the Waters makes you live the emotion. I felt dumbfounded at what southern USA was like in the fifties and sixties, inspired by the civil rights campaigners, numbed by the viciousness and brutal violence they faced, in tears at what they had to go through, angry, so angry they had go through it; on the edge of my seat, alert and rivetted, to see what happened next, bewildered by and in despair of the whites' attitudes, in tears again at the protestors' courage, such inspiring and daunting courage.
And Martin Luther King: we see him with all his weaknesses and flaws, but what a giant of a man! What a giant of human history!
This book is being read in 1000 years time and I run out of superlatives.
Anyone who does not give this book 5 stars is crazy!!!, 24 Jul 1999
Taylor Branch presents solid research and keen observation in his first of three books on the civil rights movement. Other than Garrow's "Bearing the Cross," Branch's "Parting" is a triumph in presenting an honest approach of Dr. King. The first book is, and the final two will be, THE historical text of the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's.
One of the best books I've ever read!, 27 May 1999
I purchased this because I am interested in King, the Civil Rights Movement and because I grew up during this timeframe and wanted to know more. I was a bit apprehensive when I saw the size of the book and worried it would be a drudge, but nothing could have been further from the truth. I find I look forward to reading it each night and can't put it down, but at the same time I don't want it to end. I am almost finished with it and have purchased the second book so I can continue (and I was really glad to hear this is a trilogy). I can't recommend this book enough. And I talk to everyone about it. It is an important work and a pure joy to read. Thank you Mr. Branch!
It changed my life, 02 Oct 1998
I first read PARTING THE WATERS 9 years ago. Since then I have read it again. And I have to say it is one of the best books ever written. The Pulitzer Prize was well deserved. The research and heart Mr. Branch has sewn into this beautiful story is amazing. And it's all true. I have just started on PILLAR OF FIRE, the 2nd part of the trilogy. I can't wait.
An engrossing summary, 27 Jun 1998
When I picked up this book I wasn't particularly interested in Martin Luther King. I wanted to find out more about the Civil Rights era. For someone of my generation (30ish), I was only vaguely aware of the major events of the civil rights movement. This book has a series of excellent narratives detailing some of the major events of the movement (bus boycott, freedom rides) that were vivid and disturbing. I was moved by the passion of the peaople involved on both sides of the color line.
An informative introduction to the civil rights mov, 21 Jun | | |