A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr Chapter Summary & Analysis - Why We Can't Wait (Book) Summary

Why We Can't Wait (Book) Summary and Analysis

This book was written by Martin Luther King, Jr. as a history of the efforts for desegregation in Birmingham, Alabama, which was the most violent, ruthless place in which they attempted to gain justice and equity for the Negro. The editor chose to include only four of the chapters of the book. There may have been other interesting and enlightening chapters that would help our understanding of King and the things he wrote. These chapters highlight the thesis of his book that King was a great prophet and leader of the black people and the civil rights movement.

Life in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963 was difficult. None of the desegregation laws had taken effect there. The leaders took pride in their virulent opposition to the Civil Rights Laws and anti-segregation laws. Reverend Shuttleworth, the Birmingham Civil Rights leader, in New York surprised those at a planning meeting saying, "You...
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