When Coretta Scott King first wrote "My Life With Martin Luther King, Jr.," America was just beginning to cope with the tragedy of his assassination. Her personal narrative helped us to hold on to his memory. In the revised copy, Mrs. King addresses a new generation of readers. She reminds us of the Dr. King many of us having forgotten. Mrs. King shows us the true power of militant nonviolence -- the most effective force for changing race relations in United States History.

I found her book to answer questions I've always had as a woman. What part did African-American women play in helping with the Civil Rights Movement, since, in general, they do not have as publicized a role? What was Corretta's life like, never knowing if her husband would ever come home, since he'd already gone through a stabbing? Do people caught up in a movement know they are in a movement? What was the precipitating force behind the Civil Rights Movement? How did one balance their personal life, yet advocate what was extremely dangerous views at that time? What was their source of strength?

This book answered these questions and more. In the chapter entitled, "We have taken this type of thing too long," Mrs. King identifies it. To quote from the book, she says, "There is a spirit and a need and a man at the beginning of every great human advance. Each of these must be right for that moment of history, or nothing happens. In Montgomery, what Martin called the Zeitgeist, or the spirit of the time, was there under the apparent passivity of the African-American people. The hour had struck, and the man was found." She talks about what Dr. King had called "the slow fire of discontent" which had burned almost unnoticed under the crust of apparent peace imposed by a predominantly white society.

For years, I've thought it was unfair that Mrs. King, like the wives of so many other slain civil rights leaders (Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and more) were left to raise their children alone. However, In reading her book, I understand that Mrs. King knew that her husband had a purpose and that even when he died, he was doing what his purpose was.

This book will give you insights into the relationship between Dr. King and his wife, Coretta. It will make you understand the pressures they faced as a young couple trying to raise their children and reconcile their responsibilities to the Civil Rights Movement. What you learn is that their marriage was founded on the old-fashioned principles of commitment to God, family, and the community of man. This book is a wonderful tribute to the fortitude of this great spiritual woman. This is a good read and recommended reading for both young and old.