Martin Luther King Jr.: A King Family Tribute

By Angela Farris Watkins and Andrew Young

In this “handsome photo-essay . . . family members across generations and a few close friends remember the man they knew as ‘M. L.’” (Booklist).

Martin Luther King Jr.’s family comes together for the first time to share their reflections and memories of the great civil rights leader in this touching and intimate volume. Included are contributions from his sister (the only surviving member of his immediate family), his children, his in-laws, his nieces and nephews, and even his grandchildren, who, although they never met him, explain what his legacy means to them.

Unlike the iconic persona of statues and portraits, the book presents a loving view of the man who used to sneaking naps during holiday meals and playing games with his nieces and nephews. Alongside these tributes are never-before-published family photos of Dr. King, as well as new photographs of the memorial dedicated to him in August 2011 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ABRAMS
• Release date: Jan 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9781683357421

Andrew Young

Andrew Young is the author of The Politician, his insider account of John Edwards’ pursuit of the presidency. After earning a bachelor's degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree at the Wake Forest University School of Law, Young was a volunteer for John Edwards’ winning campaign for U.S. Senate. Hired in 1999, Young became Edwards’ longest serving and most trusted aide. He raised more than $10 million for the politician’s various causes and played a key role in Edwards’ efforts to become President of the United States. Now a private citizen, he lives in Chapel Hill with his wife Cheri and their three children.

Book preview

Editor: Howard Reeves

Designer: Rogers Eckersly Design

Production Manager: Alison Gervais

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Watkins, Angela Farris.

Martin Luther King Jr. : a King family tribute / edited by Angela Farris Watkins.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4197-0269-3 (alk. paper)

eISBN 978-1-68335-742-1

1. King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1899-1984. 2. King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929–1968—Family. 3. African American civil rights workers—Biography. 4. African American leadership—History—20th century. 5. African Americans—Civil rights—History—20th century. 6. Civil rights Movements—United States—History—20th century. I. Title.

E185.97.K5W325 2012

323.092—dc23

[B]

2012008320

Compilation copyright © 2012 Angela Farris Watkins

For individual essay credits and photo credits see this page.

Note: Many of the photographs reproduced in this book are in pristine condition, while others are torn and frayed, even copies of copies of originals long lost to griefs. Further, casual photographs taken in the first part of the twentieth century have not held up well to the test of time. But all the photographs in this book are treasured keepsakes of the King family, shared with us as a whole for the first time.

Published in 2012 by Abrams, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

Abrams books are available at special discounts when purchased in quantity for premiums and promotions as well as fundraising or educational use. Special editions can also be created to specification. For details, contact [e-mail] or the address below.

ABRAMS The Art of Books

195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007

abramsbooks.com

To the generations of Kings; now living, before, and evermore.

With gratitude to Almighty God. May faith, hope, and love abide!

Martin Jr. and his sister Christine in 1930.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

BORN FOR THIS

CHAPTER 2

REFLECTIONS OF A MOTHER’S LOVE

CHAPTER 3

EXPRESSIONS FROM A LOVING SISTER

CHAPTER 4

BELOVED BROTHERS

CHAPTER 5

MEMORIES OF A COLLEGE CLASSMATE

CHAPTER 6

EXTENDING THE KING FAMILY

CHAPTER 7

KING FAMILY BRANCHES

CHAPTER 8

A PROTÉGÉ OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

CHAPTER 9

THE COMING OF ANOTHER GENERATION

CHAPTER 10

SALUTE FROM AMERICA:

THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. NATIONAL MEMORIAL

AFTERWORD

CONTRIBUTORS

INDEX OF SEARCHABLE TERMS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND CREDITS

FOREWORD

Martin Luther King Jr. was a global phenomenon. He dreamed a new world but also spent twenty of his thirty-nine years making it a reality for citizens from the American South, as well as for those around the world.

The monument for Martin Luther King Jr. on the National Mall in Washington, DC, is a testament to his life and vision. But what causes such greatness? How do some men emerge and tower over history while most of us become merely victims of our life circumstances?

It is important to have some understanding and insight into the childhood and youth of this monumental personality. No one can better supply those insights than members of his own family.

Of course, family members are prone to point out those special signs of genius and prophecy, and there’s no doubt there were many, now that we are looking back. But who was ML the boy? The boy who went to day camp at the Butler Street YMCA, worked in a mattress factory, picked tobacco with other Morehouse students in Connecticut.

Who was the boy of fifteen entering Morehouse College? What did Dr. Benjamin Mays see in him that other professors did not? What kind of son, brother, husband, father, pastor, was he?

I was amazed the first time I saw him on a basketball court or by a pool table speaking nonviolence in Birmingham. He spoke to everyone, always having time for the least of those God’s children. Where did these manhood skills come from?

Included here is a special family tribute by Dr. Christine King Farris, the sister of Dr. King and the only surviving member of his childhood home. Only his family can give us the clues to his calling; the boy, the youth, the student, and finally the man among men and the man of God.

Thanks to his family for taking on this challenge.

ANDREW YOUNG

In these pages you will experience

the love and the struggle that surrounded

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

as he developed into a leader of a movement

committed to a just society for all people.

The personal reflections of family and friends

featured here attest to the power of peace and

harmony that he expressed.

INTRODUCTION

Although King of Hearts is a phrase strongly marked all over the world and is particularly powerful in the hand of the player to whom that card is dealt, King of Heart denotes the power that one man had to ignite significant changes in America and inspire generations of world citizens. His last name was King—Martin Luther King Jr.—and he, with heart, led the American Civil Rights movement.

This is a tribute to his life and work composed of the personal reflections of his family and a few close friends. These reflections bear witness

Reviews for Martin Luther King Jr.

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A handsomely designed and illustrated tribute from multi-generational family members.

[thewanderingjew_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Received from Goodreads, this book, large like a family album, sized for display on a coffee table or such, is a treasure. I was so pleased when I won it that the moment it arrived I began reading.It is a touching spiritual and pictorial memorial to Martin Luther King Jr., through the eyes and words of those friends and extended family that knew of him and loved him; it will move even the most casual observer. Although he has become larger than life to most people, to those involved in his life, he was simply ML; he was human and reachable, fun, caring and kind. He was simply real! He knew who he was and where he was going with his life. He could be relied upon and trusted.Through the personal memories and photos, he becomes a part of the reader’s life. For me, the book felt personal. The book moved me to tears, at times, as it brought back memories of the day he was shot. I remember the disbelief at the sudden loss of such a personage, who was larger than life and continued to be, even in death. The sixties were a decade of shame, but this book brings ML back to life, warmly, with heartfelt emotion and affection.The respectful, glowing testimonies to his goodness and peaceful, loving purposeful life, speak volumes in only a few words. The book is not long or thick, but it is a gift with which to cherish and remember the man who changed the world, for the better. Truly, a picture is worth a thousand words. Although he did not fire a shot, and did not believe in violence, someone else did, and that someone robbed the world of a great man who could have done much more. Yet, his legacy is one of freedom and justice for all and with it, he lives on, as does his dream.