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King Legacy #5
All Labor Has Dignity
An unprecedented and timely collection of Dr. King’s speeches on labor rights and economic justice
Covering all the civil rights movement highlights--Montgomery, Albany, Birmingham, Selma, Chicago, and Memphis--award-winning historian Michael K. Honey introduces and traces Dr. King's dream of economic equality. Gathered in one volume for the first time, the majority of these speeches will be new to most readers. The collection begins with King's lectures to unions in the 1960s and includes his addresses made during his Poor People's Campaign, culminating with his momentous "Mountaintop" speech, delivered in support of striking black sanitation workers in Memphis. Unprecedented and timely, "All Labor Has Dignity" will more fully restore our understanding of King's lasting vision of economic justice, bringing his demand for equality right into the present.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published December 22, 2010
About the author
Martin Luther King Jr.
351 books3,330 followersMartin Luther King, Jr. was one of the pivotal leaders of the American civil rights movement. King was a Baptist minister, one of the few leadership roles available to black men at the time. He became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956) and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1957), serving as its first president. His efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. Here he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history. In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a national holiday in the United States in 1986. In 2004, King was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a national holiday in the United States in 1986. In 2004, King was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 7, 2020
Summary: MLK is such an awesome guy for what he's trying to say. This book, for me, is a bit light (relative to other works). Also, I think the world has moved from this point in history as relates to solutions (not as relates to the idea of dignity in labor).
The thing with MLK is that he has zero problems communicating. His language, choice of words and directness will always give him a base minimum of 3 stars. It's more that during his time of writing, these big companies were the only way. The group he's representing are those that are truly, truly poor (in a way that today is different), and those that are not even remotely allowed to participate, i.e. minorities and women.
Today, the fight has a new nuance. So yes:
p. 78 - believing you are somebody with possibilities is key. The world should be structured to do that. This was not the case back then.
That said, knowing you are somebody, you ought to do something. Still, it is the case in 2020 that some cannot, but the people he's addressing and talking about here were totally willing to do something about it. In 2020, we almost have to differentiate. B/c his solution is that those willing to do something ought to feel just fine about giving the fruits of their labor over, or that they simply don't understand the degree to which they were born lucky. Yes, def... howeveer... not quite. The solution is not to take from me. Yes, def I got to pay you a fair wage. Yes, def, I got to give opportunities, create them for others. But no, def not, I do not need to give you far beyond or for the sake of just you should deserve it.
MLK isn't necessarily saying I should, so much as the idea is simply not fleshed out in this particular book. In this particular book, we really just highlight the speaches without any of the other stuff and in 2020 I'm not 100% certain it's reasonable the reader wouldn't misunderstand it all.
p. 92 - The inequality being ridiculously egregious. Too many data points to correct it. Yes. The solution will have to come from more than the government IMO. The beast was far more pervasive than what MLK was trying to move in his time. He is right for his point in history. But now we must go with his other works...
p. 102- It is not a constitutional right that men have jobs, but it is a human right." So, I would say "yes, and." It is great that people create jobs, but it is not IMO the right of someone to give you a job. I think that you should have the ability to make a living at your joy... but you have to treat it like something you're going to be dependable doing. This is missed in this statement. He's only interested in job from the perspective being able to make a living, feed your family,etc. But this is not the path to happiness... That really would require so many make jobs or find ways to really match employer with someone who would have absolute bliss and thankfulness for being able to do that role (whether it's as a means to grow skills, an innate love for the job, or as a stepping stone to something greater). Creating that is the hard work of leaders. But I think leaders focus on things htat have nothing to do with that b/c they are generically thinking "jobs."
There are more examples of discrimination from this period. The solution that won't work though is a pure hire people and give them the opportunity to make a living. Yes, great starting place. One needs to understand that. We need to do that. IN 2020, I think there is even more that we need to do. This is where the dialogue should move.
The thing with MLK is that he has zero problems communicating. His language, choice of words and directness will always give him a base minimum of 3 stars. It's more that during his time of writing, these big companies were the only way. The group he's representing are those that are truly, truly poor (in a way that today is different), and those that are not even remotely allowed to participate, i.e. minorities and women.
Today, the fight has a new nuance. So yes:
p. 78 - believing you are somebody with possibilities is key. The world should be structured to do that. This was not the case back then.
That said, knowing you are somebody, you ought to do something. Still, it is the case in 2020 that some cannot, but the people he's addressing and talking about here were totally willing to do something about it. In 2020, we almost have to differentiate. B/c his solution is that those willing to do something ought to feel just fine about giving the fruits of their labor over, or that they simply don't understand the degree to which they were born lucky. Yes, def... howeveer... not quite. The solution is not to take from me. Yes, def I got to pay you a fair wage. Yes, def, I got to give opportunities, create them for others. But no, def not, I do not need to give you far beyond or for the sake of just you should deserve it.
MLK isn't necessarily saying I should, so much as the idea is simply not fleshed out in this particular book. In this particular book, we really just highlight the speaches without any of the other stuff and in 2020 I'm not 100% certain it's reasonable the reader wouldn't misunderstand it all.
p. 92 - The inequality being ridiculously egregious. Too many data points to correct it. Yes. The solution will have to come from more than the government IMO. The beast was far more pervasive than what MLK was trying to move in his time. He is right for his point in history. But now we must go with his other works...
p. 102- It is not a constitutional right that men have jobs, but it is a human right." So, I would say "yes, and." It is great that people create jobs, but it is not IMO the right of someone to give you a job. I think that you should have the ability to make a living at your joy... but you have to treat it like something you're going to be dependable doing. This is missed in this statement. He's only interested in job from the perspective being able to make a living, feed your family,etc. But this is not the path to happiness... That really would require so many make jobs or find ways to really match employer with someone who would have absolute bliss and thankfulness for being able to do that role (whether it's as a means to grow skills, an innate love for the job, or as a stepping stone to something greater). Creating that is the hard work of leaders. But I think leaders focus on things htat have nothing to do with that b/c they are generically thinking "jobs."
There are more examples of discrimination from this period. The solution that won't work though is a pure hire people and give them the opportunity to make a living. Yes, great starting place. One needs to understand that. We need to do that. IN 2020, I think there is even more that we need to do. This is where the dialogue should move.
June 22, 2024
Though repeating in many respects, King's writing is evergreen in its themes. Topics of unions, universal basic income, voting rights, equal rights, are all eloquently voiced. I would recommend anyone with a hint of interest to read this! You'll come out of it moved 🥺
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August 6, 2024electric tragic inspiring
there's an Obama-era revision of civil rights history that pretends that the Civil Rights Movement stopped at political equality and wasn't advocating for social welfare. (in fact Angela Davis says “the mainstream civil rights movement wasn’t doing enough about housing/jobs/education/etc.” in her 2016 book Freedom Is a Constant Struggle) but MLK was very clear that “it isn’t enough to integrate lunch counters."
"What does it profit a man to be able to eat at an integrated lunch counter if he doesn’t earn enough money to buy a hamburger and a cup of coffee? (Applause) What does it profit a man to be able to eat at the swankiest integrated restaurant when he doesn’t earn enough money to take his wife out to dine? (Applause) What does it profit one to have access to the hotels of our city and the motels of our highway when we don’t earn enough money to take our family on a vacation?”
what makes labor menial is not hard, dirty, sweaty, smelly work. the only thing that makes labor menial is lack of adequate wages and protections. “whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity, and it has worth. (Applause) One day our society must come to see this. One day our society will come to respect the sanitation worker if it is to survive, for the person who picks up our garbage, in the final analysis, is as significant as the physician, for if he doesn’t do his job, diseases are rampant. (Applause) All labor (All labor) has dignity. (Yes!)” Yes
there's an Obama-era revision of civil rights history that pretends that the Civil Rights Movement stopped at political equality and wasn't advocating for social welfare. (in fact Angela Davis says “the mainstream civil rights movement wasn’t doing enough about housing/jobs/education/etc.” in her 2016 book Freedom Is a Constant Struggle) but MLK was very clear that “it isn’t enough to integrate lunch counters."
"What does it profit a man to be able to eat at an integrated lunch counter if he doesn’t earn enough money to buy a hamburger and a cup of coffee? (Applause) What does it profit a man to be able to eat at the swankiest integrated restaurant when he doesn’t earn enough money to take his wife out to dine? (Applause) What does it profit one to have access to the hotels of our city and the motels of our highway when we don’t earn enough money to take our family on a vacation?”
what makes labor menial is not hard, dirty, sweaty, smelly work. the only thing that makes labor menial is lack of adequate wages and protections. “whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity, and it has worth. (Applause) One day our society must come to see this. One day our society will come to respect the sanitation worker if it is to survive, for the person who picks up our garbage, in the final analysis, is as significant as the physician, for if he doesn’t do his job, diseases are rampant. (Applause) All labor (All labor) has dignity. (Yes!)” Yes
June 3, 2020
I first found this book when was looking for recordings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speeches, and this book included a CD. It great to look at on Labor Day, since this is a union- and worker- focused collection of King's writing.
Listening to "The Unresolved Race Question" (Oct. 23, 1963) again during this week -when protests against the police murdering George Floyd (and many other POC) are being held in every state- was so powerful, particularly when King speaks about Normalcy.
"Just a few days ago in Birmingham, Alabama, the local newspaper said "When are Negroes going to end these demonstrations and allow things to return to normalcy?" Well, I must say to Birmingham and to the others that we all believe in and work for a legitimate, healthy, positive normalcy, but there is normalcy that we will never work to preserve. For we will never forget that it was normalcy in Mississippi that made for the vicious murder of Medgar Evers. It was normalcy in Birmingham, Alabama, that brought about the tragic and ungodly murder of four innocent girls. It is normalcy in Louisiana that prevents Negroes from becoming unregistered voters. It is normalcy in the villages and hamlets and cities of Georgia that prevents Negroes from staying in motels and hotels.
It is normalcy in the nation that so often takes necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes. It is normalcy in the world that makes for the madness of militarism, the self-defeating effect of physical violence, and the poisoning of the atmosphere with nuclear tests. No, we will not return to that kind of normalcy, never will we return to it!"
Listening to "The Unresolved Race Question" (Oct. 23, 1963) again during this week -when protests against the police murdering George Floyd (and many other POC) are being held in every state- was so powerful, particularly when King speaks about Normalcy.
"Just a few days ago in Birmingham, Alabama, the local newspaper said "When are Negroes going to end these demonstrations and allow things to return to normalcy?" Well, I must say to Birmingham and to the others that we all believe in and work for a legitimate, healthy, positive normalcy, but there is normalcy that we will never work to preserve. For we will never forget that it was normalcy in Mississippi that made for the vicious murder of Medgar Evers. It was normalcy in Birmingham, Alabama, that brought about the tragic and ungodly murder of four innocent girls. It is normalcy in Louisiana that prevents Negroes from becoming unregistered voters. It is normalcy in the villages and hamlets and cities of Georgia that prevents Negroes from staying in motels and hotels.
It is normalcy in the nation that so often takes necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes. It is normalcy in the world that makes for the madness of militarism, the self-defeating effect of physical violence, and the poisoning of the atmosphere with nuclear tests. No, we will not return to that kind of normalcy, never will we return to it!"
January 7, 2020
In a column in April 2018, I wrote about this book:
"King was the central force of the civil rights movement for black Americans, and as long as there are white Americans who think the color of one's skin determines the boundaries of one's community, none of us white people can lay claim to any part of King. Fortunately, he didn't draw those kinds of lines when it came to his advocacy for fellow Americans.
"His fight for workers' rights and economic justice was a crusade for every man and woman of any color who punched a time clock for a living. Yet so few of the people I come from, the white working class, have been willing to see the ally we had in King."
I've read this book three times, adding new notes to the margins every time.
"King was the central force of the civil rights movement for black Americans, and as long as there are white Americans who think the color of one's skin determines the boundaries of one's community, none of us white people can lay claim to any part of King. Fortunately, he didn't draw those kinds of lines when it came to his advocacy for fellow Americans.
"His fight for workers' rights and economic justice was a crusade for every man and woman of any color who punched a time clock for a living. Yet so few of the people I come from, the white working class, have been willing to see the ally we had in King."
I've read this book three times, adding new notes to the margins every time.
February 17, 2024
Absolutely fantastic. This book is a collection of some of Dr. King's speeches about labor and/or to labor organizations compiled and edited by historian Michael K. Honey. His introductions to the book and each speech gives context about the time period, recent events, and people mentioned in the speeches. I was constantly struck by how relevant his words are still today; there were many times I had to put the book down and take a moment because it was so distressingly perfect for things going on in the country and the world right now. The first speech in the book is from 1957, given at the Highlander Folk School in the midst of McCarthyism, and moves through the following decade to his final public speech, the "Mountaintop" speech, given in Memphis the night before he was assassinated. I highly recommend this book.
July 19, 2011
This book of collected speeches was totally enlightening. I had studied Dr. King in college but really did not revisit his life since. I was surprised to learn how involved Dr. King was in the labor movement, and after reading his speeches and considering his argument within them, it makes perfect sense. Labor is indeed tied to human rights in that in order for people to experience true freedom and pursue happiness, people require a decent income. Without financial stability, all of one's time will be spent on acquiring the basics for life: food, shelter, and clothing. No time can be put aside for pursuing "higher" goals like self-improvement, or basic luxuries.
One of the many disparities Dr. King notes is that the society was heading in the direction of "taking necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes." I believe this could always happen between employers and employees if the employer does not care about those working for them. Dr. King also addresses the effect increasing automation can have on the skilled and unskilled worker alike. Dr. King was indeed a man ahead of his time. It was a loss to lose him, but it is true how mighty the pen is because his words still ring true today.
One of the many disparities Dr. King notes is that the society was heading in the direction of "taking necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes." I believe this could always happen between employers and employees if the employer does not care about those working for them. Dr. King also addresses the effect increasing automation can have on the skilled and unskilled worker alike. Dr. King was indeed a man ahead of his time. It was a loss to lose him, but it is true how mighty the pen is because his words still ring true today.
January 18, 2021
This is an incredibly inspiring collection of King's speeches to unions, largely to promote solidarity between labor rights and civil rights movements, plus opposition to the Vietnam War, and ideas for fighting poverty. I was pretty much underlining everything. The truth and value of what he's saying here is so self-evident, and it's so frustrating that there's been so little progress. Highly recommended.
May 10, 2021
It took me about two months to read this book. MLK Jr. was a huge advocate for labor rights and unions. MLK was a powerful orator and knew how to deliver a message eloquently! His speeches in this book were superb and compelling. The title intrigued me and made me want to read the book. His speeches changed my perspective on the importance of work. All forms of labor are worthy and respectable, whether they are blue-collar or white-collar jobs.
September 17, 2018
All labor has dignity
An excellent collection of speeches Dr. King gave to union workers between 1959 and 1968. While they may be dated they are still relevant and important. I hope that unions return to their original passion for improving the status of all who are willing to work.
An excellent collection of speeches Dr. King gave to union workers between 1959 and 1968. While they may be dated they are still relevant and important. I hope that unions return to their original passion for improving the status of all who are willing to work.
December 27, 2024
King's image has been greatly softened over time and molded to fit a particular narrative. He was an advocate for not just racial justice but class and labor movements and antiwar movements. Read his speeches and works directly and see why he was seen as such a huge threat in his time, remember that he was repeatedly jailed, and that the FBI spent intensive resources trying to take him down.
February 16, 2023
Amazing Works of an Amazing man
Rate ability to command and rally people against odds and direct hardship
The realest of the real. Kings messaging and willingness to talk to all parties involved is unmatched
Rate ability to command and rally people against odds and direct hardship
The realest of the real. Kings messaging and willingness to talk to all parties involved is unmatched
March 9, 2018
A collection of Dr King's speeches from his last year-- all of them dealing with labor and working class movements. Fantastic, all of them.
June 16, 2021
Great intro to MLK's economic views
August 21, 2022
This is a great collection of some of Dr. Martin Luther King's speeches. The author did a wonderful job giving context before each speech making them more meaningful when reading.
August 23, 2018
Everyone should read this book. It is very readable and I think everyone will gain something positive from it.
March 19, 2012
As a collection of King's speeches, this is a 5/5. I realize that's the point, and I'll get to the other part later. Several of the speeches are spectacular, reminding you why Dr King transcended all walks of life with his message of equality, hope, and justice. It succeeds in giving you the full breadth of King's message and plan. His vision of a united lower class was, is, and will be highly relevant in our nation until we address the issues of economic and racial inequalities which continue to plague our great nation. I don't see how anyone could give that anything less than 5 stars.
However, this is a book organized by someone else and I think that warrants a separate discussion and the overall grade. As a book, there are times the message can get bogged down in the way it's presented. Obviously, King didn't rattle off these speeches one after the other; each had it's own context and intended audience. This makes for some inherent repetitiveness when reading them straight through. I think the editor could have done more to set them apart, perhaps by giving the civil rights and labor issues more context than just King's. After all, King wasn't doing what he did in a complete vacuum. Maybe I'm being picky, but I didn't find the middle context intros very enlightening. This doesn't really have any bearing on the power or importance of his message or detract from it, but is nice to know going in; some of the selected speeches don't flow particularly well as a result of a lack of broader context. The last three, however, are nearly impossible to put down, as they were all delivered in quick secession. Here, Honey does a great job providing quick insight that I found helpful and worth reading. Overall, he does a great job; I don't envy the task of filling the gaps between King's speeches.
However, this is a book organized by someone else and I think that warrants a separate discussion and the overall grade. As a book, there are times the message can get bogged down in the way it's presented. Obviously, King didn't rattle off these speeches one after the other; each had it's own context and intended audience. This makes for some inherent repetitiveness when reading them straight through. I think the editor could have done more to set them apart, perhaps by giving the civil rights and labor issues more context than just King's. After all, King wasn't doing what he did in a complete vacuum. Maybe I'm being picky, but I didn't find the middle context intros very enlightening. This doesn't really have any bearing on the power or importance of his message or detract from it, but is nice to know going in; some of the selected speeches don't flow particularly well as a result of a lack of broader context. The last three, however, are nearly impossible to put down, as they were all delivered in quick secession. Here, Honey does a great job providing quick insight that I found helpful and worth reading. Overall, he does a great job; I don't envy the task of filling the gaps between King's speeches.
March 2, 2014
This is a wonderful short compilation of speeches. The speeches themselves are powerful and inspiring. Given the theme of the collection, these speeches also demonstrate how much broader MLK's vision was than just civil rights.
I appreciated that the introductions to each speech were kept concise but nevertheless provided interesting historical background and context for the speech. It provided me with a much more developed sense of the political importance of unions, the politics of unions, and the multifaceted engagement that MLK had with them. These were not secondary issues to King. They were central to his vision for justice in America. To quote one of these speeches, when criticized for involving himself in economic issues, King replied:
It is true that many of the speeches repeat certain phrases, stories, or other elements. I understand why that makes some reviewers critical of the editing, but for me, it wasn't a big deal for two reasons: a.) it provides an insight into what MLK saw as unifying themes of his speeches over the years, and b.) it reflects the nature of the format (a printed collection of speeches).
If you're not familiar with King's positions on poverty, labor, and economic justice, I strongly recommend reading this book.
"May justice flow like a river and righteousness like a mighty stream."
I appreciated that the introductions to each speech were kept concise but nevertheless provided interesting historical background and context for the speech. It provided me with a much more developed sense of the political importance of unions, the politics of unions, and the multifaceted engagement that MLK had with them. These were not secondary issues to King. They were central to his vision for justice in America. To quote one of these speeches, when criticized for involving himself in economic issues, King replied:
Well, I had only one answer for that and it was simply the fact that I have struggled too long and too hard to get rid of segregation in public accomodations to end up at this point in my life segregating my moral concerns.
It is true that many of the speeches repeat certain phrases, stories, or other elements. I understand why that makes some reviewers critical of the editing, but for me, it wasn't a big deal for two reasons: a.) it provides an insight into what MLK saw as unifying themes of his speeches over the years, and b.) it reflects the nature of the format (a printed collection of speeches).
If you're not familiar with King's positions on poverty, labor, and economic justice, I strongly recommend reading this book.
"May justice flow like a river and righteousness like a mighty stream."
October 30, 2012
This book was an impulse purchase at the new King memorial in DC. It's an interesting topic, but I think ended up not to be a very compelling read. I do think it's worth knowing how much King involved himself with the labor movement, and understanding his views on things like industrial automation. However, I think I would have liked the book to have more commentary on the broad sweep of things; this book more or less prints his speeches with a bit of introduction at the beginning of each. Another shortcoming as a book is that, since King was speaking to similar audiences in many different places, his speeches tend to repeat themselves. This is in contrast to a book such as "Strength to Love", where he is writing for the same audience over and over, and thus having to say something new every time.
April 30, 2011
With the current assault on collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and elsewhere, the publication of All Labor Has Dignity, a new collection of Martin Luther King's speeches on organized labor, couldn't be more timely.
It's not widely known today that King worked closely with labor unions. But economic justice was as much a part of King's vision as were civil rights and racial equality. Read more
It's not widely known today that King worked closely with labor unions. But economic justice was as much a part of King's vision as were civil rights and racial equality. Read more
September 12, 2015
These speeches get a little repetitious and the editor makes a choice of sometimes excising the repetition. For a collection like this, it's probably better to leave it in.
The speeches are great, of course, and as timely today as they were then, more or less. They're just, again, a little repetitious. Also, short. It makes you wish there was more here.
The speeches are great, of course, and as timely today as they were then, more or less. They're just, again, a little repetitious. Also, short. It makes you wish there was more here.
January 16, 2012
An absolutely brilliant collection of King's speeches outlining his work with labor unions and his desire to unify them with the Civil Rights. This clearly outlines King's genius behind cultural change.
August 3, 2013
It amazed me that what MLK strived for over 50 years ago, a land where men will not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few, is still hot topic today. Especially meaningful as our middle class disappears.
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