Why We Can't WaitMartin Luther King’s classic exploration of the events and forces behind the Civil Rights Movement—including his Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963. “There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair.” In 1963, Birmingham, Alabama, was perhaps the most racially segregated city in the United States. The campaign launched by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Civil Rights movement on the segregated streets of Birmingham demonstrated to the world the power of nonviolent direct action. In this remarkable book—winner of the Nobel Peace Prize—Dr. King recounts the story of Birmingham in vivid detail, tracing the history of the struggle for civil rights back to its beginnings three centuries ago and looking to the future, assessing the work to be done beyond Birmingham to bring about full equality for African Americans. Above all, Dr. King offers an eloquent and penetrating analysis of the events and pressures that propelled the Civil Rights movement from lunch counter sit-ins and prayer marches to the forefront of American consciousness. Since its publication in the 1960s, Why We Can’t Wait has become an indisputable classic. Now, more than ever, it is an enduring testament to the wise and courageous vision of Martin Luther King, Jr. Includes photographs and an Afterword by Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. |
Contents
The Sword That Heals | 13 |
Bull Connors Birmingham | 33 |
New Day in Birmingham | 46 |
Letter from Birmingham Jail | 64 |
Black and White Together | 85 |
The Summer of Our Discontent | 100 |
The Days to Come | 116 |
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Common terms and phrases
African Americans Alabama Albany Albert Boutwell American army asked Birmingham bomb Boutwell boycott Bull Connor Burke Marshall campaign century Christian church citizens civil civil-rights movement color courage court crusade demonstrations desegregation downtown economic Eugene Bull extremist face fact felt fight force Fred Shuttlesworth freedom Georgia go to jail Harry Belafonte hope human hundred injustice integrated Joe Louis justice knew labor land leadership living lunch counters Martin Luther King meetings ment millions mingham ministers Montgomery Montgomery bus boycott moral move nation Negro community Negro leaders Negro Revolution never nonviolent direct action nonviolent resistance organized police political power structure President Kennedy protest race racial Ralph Ralph Abernathy Reverend Revolution run-off seek segregation segregationist sense sit-ins slavery social society South southern streets struggle summer of 1963 tion token unjust victory violence vote