Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Life in American History covers King’s life, achievements, and challenges, placing his contributions within the context of American history.

This indispensable resource explores the life and times of Martin Luther King, Jr. and includes a robust biographical narrative that discusses his early life and adult ministry from the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1956 to the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike in 1968.

The book goes beyond the typical biography by exploring King’s achievements within the context of American history. Chapters are organized chronologically, and a supplementary chapter, Why King Matters, explores King’s cultural and historical significance. Carefully curated Cultural Connections are placed throughout the text to help students connect the dots between the subject and the larger context of social, political, intellectual, and pop culture in American history. The work also provides a detailed timeline and primary document excerpts.

Synthesizes the latest secondary sources exploring King’s legacy

Includes excerpts of primary sources written to and by King, enabling a fuller comprehension of his influence and work

Places King within the dynamic and volatile political environments of the 1950s and 1960s