Martin Luther King's leadership and vision guided the direction of the civil rights movement and his message stirred a new consciousness in the American public. The books recommended below provide a look at King's life and his most important writings.
1. A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings & Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr
Edited by James M. Washington. This is a collection of King's writings, sermons, public addresses, and interviews. It includes his "I Have a Dream" speech, his Letter from Birmingham City Jail, and writings on nonviolence and integration.
2. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Martin Luther King, Clayborne Carson (editor). Clayborne Carson has used King's writings, interviews, and personal correspondence to create an autobiography that is written in King's own words. This book covers King's entire life.3. Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership
by David J. Garrow. Garrow's biography is based on over 700 interviews with King's closest acquaintances and friends. It covers both his personal and private life. This book won a Pulitzer Prize in 1987.