King: A Life

Blackboard Notes #1

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⬛️ Blackboard Rating:

I Am, Heavy, On You

💼 The Brief:

King reveals a minister wrestling with his own human frailties and dark moods, a citizen hunted by his government, and a man determined to fight for justice even if it proves to be a fight to the death. The author follows MLK from the classroom to the pulpit to the streets of Birmingham, Selma, and Memphis. Eig dramatically re-creates the journey of a man who recast American race relations and became our only modern-day founding father—the nation’s most mourned martyr.

🎙️Engaging Quotes:

There was a sense of somebodiness within us that always kept us moving toward the sense of dignity and self-respect that any human being should have. - MLK Senior

Though Negroes made up 10 percent of the American population, they do not by far have anything approaching a tenth of the things worth having in America. - Gunnar Myrdal, An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and American Democracy

However learned the Morehouse man may become, his destiny is tied up, and inevitably so, with the great mass of people who do the ordinary work of the world and need their souls lifted by contact and fellowship with the more privileged among us. - Benjamin Mays

An oppressed minority group with no chance of amassing the power to challenge its oppressors might do well to adopt a strategy of nonviolence, as Gandhi did in India. “The emancipation of the Negro race in America probably waits upon the adequate development of this kind of social and political strategy.” “It is hopeless for the Negro to expect complete emancipation from the menial social and economic position into which the white man has forced him … It is equally hopeless to attempt emancipation through violent rebellion.” - Reinhold Niebuhr, Moral Man and Immoral Society

When a mother has to work she does violence to motherhood by depriving her children of her loving guidance and protection. - MLK

Born in a small-town repressive South, born of flesh and destined to become iron, born—born a cornflower and destined to become a steel magnolia. - Maya Angelou

Each of us is something of a schizophrenic personality. We’re split up and divided against ourselves. There is something of a civil war going on within all our lives…With the best of us, there is some evil, and within the worst of us, there is some good. - MLK

🧐 Interesting Facts and Insights:

• As an adolescent, he twice attempted suicide, although perhaps half-heartedly. As an adult, he was hospitalized repeatedly for what he called exhaustion, and others described as depression.

• He cheated on his wife continually, even when he knew the FBI was tapping his phones, bugging his hotel rooms, and trying to destroy his marriage and reputation.

• Between 1885 and 1930, more than four thousand black people were lynched in the South as part of the enforcement of racial segregation and subordination.

• Before he learned to read, he had a fondness for books. He found comfort in their tangible presence and the anticipation of the conversations they held. He collected them like other children collect stuffed animals and blankets.

• According to MLK's father, his mother, whom he nicknamed Bunch, was especially gifted with children and raised theirs with great love and respect for their feelings.

• In 1940, Black voters supported Roosevelt and the Democratic Party in growing numbers, despite the party's acceptance of Jim Crow.

• Less than 3 percent of black people in the South were registered to vote, and politicians blocked attempts to expand voting rights.

• The FBI monitored black organizers, activists, lawyers, organizations, and artists under J. Edgar Hoover's leadership, believing they threatened American interests.

• When Black soldiers returned home from the war, Jim Crow laws, second-class housing options, and lynching continued. GI benefits were denied.

• King largely chose to study at Boston University to study with Edgar S. Brightman, known for his philosophical understanding of a personal God, not an impersonal deity lacking human characteristics.

• White bus drivers often required Black passengers to pay their fares at the front of the bus and step off and reenter by the rear door.

🔬 The 7th Filter:

I've always been fascinated by MLK, and while reading this excellent biography, I couldn't help but puzzle how King's life intersects with King David's, but not in the way one might think.

MLK vs. King David:

• David was called young, and MLK announced at an early age that God had called him to act.¹

• Samuel pulled David from obscurity and anointed him as the next King of Israel. Ralph Abernathy recommended MLK, a little-known preacher in Montgomery, to lead the second edition of the Montgomery Improvement Association after Rosa Parks was arrested.

• David acted bravely when no one else would act when he stood up to Goliath, solidifying his leadership role. In a war room full of preachers discussing the finer points of the upcoming bus boycott, many of the preachers still feared reprisal, but MLK cited no one would call him a coward, and he was made leader of the Montgomery Improvement Association.²

• David was filled with spirit when he took on Goliath. Shortly after he was made leader of the new organization, MLK, who usually spent fifteen hours preparing and rehearsing, stepped to the microphone without notes and manuscript to address the assembled crowd gathered at the Holt Street Baptist church found in the video above.³

• David had his indiscretions with Bathsheba, and MLK had his share of stumbles with women.

At this point, I find their lives beginning to diverge more clearly. When confronted about his indiscretions, King David repented. While there were consequences for his sin, God showed David mercy and did not rip the Kingdom from him. 

I'm not certain that King was ever confronted about his recklessness or if he ever repented, given the numerous times it is alleged to have taken place. Was he even saved if he had not repented?⁴ God only knows. I do know that according to God's word, love covers a multitude of sins.⁵ And it appears to be an agape love that drove MLK and fueled a nonviolent Civil Rights Movement in the face of violence.

But I can't help but wonder, in light of God's sovereignty over all and that obedience is better than sacrifice,⁶ might we have had more time with MLK if he had exercised more discipline in the face of God's word and calling?

Neither man inserted themselves as the leader; rather, they were plucked by someone else.⁷ Neither appeared to have the resume for leadership. David was a young shepherd, and Martin was a young preacher in a new town.⁸

I'm still processing and poring over the book, but I leave you with the following.

Closing Takeaways:

• LOVE

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:37-40

• Wait on God because it’s impossible to know what he is doing your life.⁹

• God qualifies those who would appear to be unqualified.¹⁰

• Make no provisions for sin in your life.¹¹

• Fear God and keep his commandments.¹²

To Thy Matchless Glory👑

1. In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. - 1 Samuel 16:10-13

2. “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” - 1 Samuel 17:32

3. David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” - 1 Samuel 17:45-47

4. For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. - Romans 9:15-16

5. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. - 1 Peter 4:8

6. But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. - 1 Samuel 15:22

7. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. - James 4:10

8.  Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

9. Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. - Ecclesiastes 11:5

10. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7

11. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. - Romans 13:14

12. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. - Ecclesiastes 12:13