The Books in King’s Hand

This appears in the February 2012 issue of the Excelsior.

In 1967, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. served four days in jail for a contempt of court conviction associated with the 1963 Birmingham civil rights struggle. Dr. King went to jail with three books in his hands: the Bible, the book of his faith; “The Confessions of Nat Turner,” a book related to his interest in race politics; and “The New Industrialist State,” a work about his interest in economics.

Dr. King understood that in the books, there was knowledge, and in the knowledge, power. King clearly appreciated the power of reading, had understood it throughout his life, from his childhood through his three degrees (finishing with a doctorate) before he was 30.

The picture of Dr. King at this moment in his life served as the publicity picture for the recent week of local activities to celebrate Dr. King’s birthday and life. The poster with the picture also included a quote from Frederick Douglass, the famous abolitionist, on the power of reading: “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”

What Douglass understood in the 1850s and 1860s, King understood in the 1950s and 1960s. Indeed, the day before his assassination, King underscored the importance of reading in the last speech of his life. In his now famous speech of April 3, 1968, in referring to the U.S. Constitution, King exhorted:

     All we say to America is, “Be true to what you said on paper…..”

     Somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly.

     Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech.

     Somewhere I read of the freedom of press.

     Somewhere I read that the greatness of America

     is the right to protest for right.

Throughout his life, King understood that books contained the greatest power you could have, knowledge, and so he read voraciously.  He also left behind writings from which we continue to learn to this day.

Reading and writing are more important than at any time in our nation’s history, since they are critical to high school graduation and the ability to pursue higher education.  In the absence of high school graduation and some postsecondary education, young people in the 21st century have very little opportunity to live out their dreams. If our children are to be successful, if they are to maximize their promise and take advantage of the tremendous gift of the Promise, they must be regular readers, lifelong learners. There is no better example than Dr. King, whom we continue to celebrate as a role model for our children almost 44 years after his untimely death at 39.

Michael F. Rice, Ph.D.

Superintendent

Kalamazoo Public Schools