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4.5 

Kennedy and King

By Steven Levingston
Kennedy and King by Steven Levingston digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

A New York Times Editors' Choice Pick

"Kennedy and King is an unqualified masterpiece of historical narrative . . . A landmark achievement." -- Douglas Brinkley, New York Times bestselling author of Rosa Parks

Kennedy and King traces the emergence of two of the twentieth century's greatest leaders, their powerful impact on each other and on the shape of the civil rights battle between 1960 and 1963. These two men from starkly different worlds profoundly influenced each other's personal development. Kennedy's hesitation on civil rights spurred King to greater acts of courage, and King inspired Kennedy to finally make a moral commitment to equality. As America still grapples with the legacy of slavery and the persistence of discrimination, Kennedy and King is a vital, vivid contribution to the literature of the Civil Rights Movement.

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10 Reviews

4.5
“A man does what he must, in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressure and that is the basis of all human morality. Over the last few days I've heard people repeatedly say "This country is better than this" But Is it? The events of this book took place over fifty years ago and yet they also took place over the weekend. Maybe America isnt better than this. Maybe this is America. America is judged on its actions. Around the world we are seen as a beacon of democracy. Our leaders are seen as a reflection of our values. I believe that to be true. In 1960 the country picked a President they saw as a reflection of the country's values. President Kennedy was that leader. The New Frontier as it was called was young(Kennedy is still our youngest President) vibrant, and seen as more inclusive. African Americans who at the time voted mostly Republican voted in large numbers for Kennedy. Part of what motivated African Americans to vote in mass for Kennedy was Kennedys attempt in the last weeks of the campaign to win the release of Dr. Martin Luther King from jail. Dr. King was not a fan of Kennedy or any other politician but Jack Kennedy's call to Coretta Scott King started a conversation between the two men that would continue on/off from election day to Dallas. President Kennedy was not a moral leader on the issue of Civil Rights until he was pushed by Dr. King, Jackie Robinson(who by the way didn't stand for the National Anthem), Harry Belafonte, and his brother Robert Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was man of his time. He wasnt racist but he didn't understand the African American cause either. Seeing pictures and video of The Klan and the police beating people in the street moved him to demand change. A real President is a moral leader. A real President knows the difference between right and wrong. Kennedy and King is a must read especially in the current climate we live in. This book is gripping and moving. Dr. King showed moral courage in his fight for Civil Rights. The fact that the "man" who currently lives in the White House shares more in common with Bull Connor(Google him) and George Wallace is a sad indictment of this country and its people. I recommend this book to everyone but especially those who see Neo Nazis as fine people.”

About Steven Levingston

Steven Levingston is the author of Little Demon in the City of Light, Kennedy and King, which was named a New York Times Editor's Choice selection and a Washington Post Notable Book of 2017, and Barack and Joe. The nonfiction book editor of the Washington Post, he has lived and worked in Beijing, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, and Washington and reported and edited for the Wall Street Journal and International Herald Tribune.

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