In Tavis Smiley and David Ritz recently released book ‘Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Final Year” , they do a masterful job in engaging the reader – as if they are there in person with ‘Doc’ as he struggled through the last 12 months of his life.

It is precisely the substitution of Doc in place of Dr. King that draws the reader into the story as if they are actually there. Additionally, the style used in the writing known as ‘Creative Non-Fiction’ serves to dramatize the text in a powerful way. It is a most appropriate use of style as this was consistent with the way ‘Doc’ preached, spoke and communicated in general. Doc told stories, stories that were at once funny, piercing, probing and profound.

Aside from the mechanics employed to tell the story; the story itself is not known to many. History is often sanitized and rewritten especially when the individual being written about raised important questions – questions that have not yet been answered.

Doc raised questions around what he called the three evils of “militarism, materialism and racism.’ What the book captures in a very poignant way is the reaction to Doc for raising the tough questions and willingness to follow his moral compass regardless of the price.
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The book shows how the establishment vehemently turned on Doc (or just showed its true colors) as well as liberals, religious leaders, his inner circle and most troubling – nearly half of all blacks felt he had become irrelevant.

Suffice it to say this book has earned 5 stars and should be required reading for not just students of the civil rights struggle but for students of Leadership. It is a lesson in courage and conviction of what it takes to be a true leader.

Submitted by Christopher A. Clarke on 10/29/14. 

Christopher A. Clarke is managing editor of Black2020.Com and can be reached through the sites contact page.