Review of Martin Luther King, Jr. – The Last Interview and Other Conversations
by Travis Catsull
I can’t remember where or why I bought this book. It’s 115 pages and in the first sitting I read half way through, then put it down for several weeks. The book bounced around in my bag while I read other things and then MLK day came so I remembered it. I finished the book one morning and thought about it for several days. There’s a great deal to process after reading this book including the struggle to identify the “new negro” of the late 50’s / early 60’s. I admit it was difficult for me to understand.
I wasn’t surprised to notice the media made little mention to what MLK spoke about during the MLK holiday. Or what his general message was although it was consistent and clear. I suppose it’s easy to forget that in less than 13 years MLK constructed a peaceful fight for a civil rights movement that is still relevant and in need. In hindsight, the book is quite sad as MLK was unable to finish most of what he started and no one has picked up his good fight.
I spent a few weeks thinking about how I was going to approach this review. I ended up not writing in my blog for over a month because I was stuck on this review as I wanted to do it justice. I decided to simply let that go and do the best I could, as sincere as I could.
This is why I don’t read a lot of books like this. It’s difficult to set them down and not carry some weight.
What I enjoyed most about this book is the natural flow of King’s narrative. This book is a compilation of various interviews transcribed from the live setting in which they occurred. Most of what is repeated in the media is from prepared speeches, sermons and essays. All prepared and edited ideas. All but one of the interviews here are unscripted responses. This provides insight to MLK’s thought process and natural candor.
While MLK’s actual last interview at the 68th Annual Convention of the Rabbinical Assembly in 1968 in Kiamesha Lake, NY is included in this book, I found it the least interesting. 10 days before he was assassinated, MLK sat with Rabbi Gendler to answer questions he received in advance. The questions are extremely long and loaded with a “Where is God in America?” overtone. Gendler sought to discuss black anti-semitism in response to their lack of effort to help the civil rights movement gain momentum. Himself affirming the lack of Jewish involvement in order to sidestep a share of the persecution. I think Gendler was wrong in assuming there was a meaningful relationship between the 1960’s Negro and Jew, but what the hell do I know.
There are numerous notable lines MLK unleashes while talking with Robert Penn Warren, Mike Wallace and others.
Here’s one of my favorites:
“One must discover the meaning of soul beauty before he has really discovered the meaning of love.” – Advice for Living, Ebony Magazine, 1958
The deep-rooted wisdom and empathetic pleadings are clear. Peripherally aware of our current racial regress 60 years later makes it tough to read MLK’s roadmap to equality. We’ve made so little progress I’m certain MLK would be disheartened. I am.
King’s call to action of justice, liberty and brotherly love is a flickering torch no one seems to want to carry. I hope this book inspires someone better and more qualified than I to pick up this heavy load and give it the love it truly deserves.
If nothing else, it will certainly provide a brotherly burden to carry.
