The Word of the Lord Is Upon Me: The Righteous Performance of Martin Luther King, Jr.
With the passage of time, those citizens that Americans elevate to the status of secular saints seem to be all things to all people, both conservatives and liberals enjoying claiming Lincoln or Jefferson as their own. It is almost 40 years since Dr. King’s death, and we can see a similar process unfolding as both Republican and Democratic politicians quote or paraphrase his words. Rieder, a professor of sociology, illustrates that King himself consciously facilitated that process. He examines an extensive variety of King’s public speeches and backstage discussions with close associates. It is evident that King chose to tailor his speaking style and occasionally the content of his message to fit his audience. Before southern, black congregations, King was a traditional Baptist preacher. In front of northern and primarily white audiences, his tone was calmer, more nuanced. In unguarded moments, an angrier King is evident as he expresses his frustration with slow racial progress. But the constant in his message was a demand for both compassion and justice that rightfully continues to captivate and inspire his countrymen. --Jay Freeman