“ Why We Cant Wait” is Martin Luther King Jr. ’s third book. He told of all the problems African American activists faced in 1963. “ Why We Cant Wait” stresses the change African Americans wanted NOW. This book showed an unique personal look on non-violence protesting that was so important in the 60s to all “ negro” communities. This book features aspects from MLKs other writings including Letter From Birmingham Jail. “ Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, ‘ Wait.
But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim…when you see the vast majority of twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky…when you take a cross-country drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel will accept you…when…your wife and mother are never given the respected title ‘ Mrs. ’…when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of ‘ nobodiness’—then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. ”(Letter From Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963)
I think every American, no matter what race, should read this book. This book was written during and shortly after 1963, where non-violent campaigns began to challenge the well-established discrimination of the time. Dr King thoughtfully shares the justifications behind the movement and the reasons for its success. As might be expected, some of the writing is reminiscent of a preacher’s sermon. Nevertheless, the ideals and thoughts being expressed fit nicely with the writing style. MLK perfectly described the Negros need for freedom from the white community. Segregation has gone on long enough. MLK’s unique methods pulled all African Americans together in a non violent protest against the angry tyrant white people are throwing. King took a stand and led so many people to freedom. In this book he explains how he did this. I feel this book is so important, even now. The ignorance of white America is intensely shocking.
I’m ashamed of my ancestors, but this book shed light on the wrong and America today has made a HUGE step from then till now. A fantastic book about a sad and yet inspiring period of American history, Martin Luther King describes, in his own words, what happened in Birmingham, AL in 1963 and what they were trying to achieve. Relative to reading history books on the topic in class, this book gives you a true sense for how amazing and brave those who took part in this movement are. Despite the constant anger and challenges the whites threw at the African Americans, they still stood their ground and never retaliated back in violence. The non-violent protest MLK proposed was the first step to a new America.
