The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. (an audio book on 8 CD's) is not truly
an autobiography since he died before he had a chance to write such a book. However the
book has the feel of the genre because the editor Clayborne Carson has put together a
seamless account of King's life using various sources.
LeVar Burton eloquently reads from various texts that relate the chronological events
of King's life. Then at various points Carson inserts speeches from King's sermons that
describe in detail certain critical points in his life. King describes in his own words
about his attending school and being forced to ride a segregated bus. These insertions,
which I thought would be distracting, turned out to be most refreshing.
Of all the cruel things King was forced to endure, one of the most heart wrenching was
when King was forced to stop associating with his childhood white friend. Even at such a
tender age, King was forced to endure but not accept social injustice.
The mixture of Burton's readings, King's own recordings and the insertion of such music
as "We Shall Not Be Moved," makes for an entertaining and informative account of this great
American.
Readers may also be interested in
A Knock at Midnight, an 8-CD collection of King's sermons.