I am in Birmingham because injustice is here; declared Martin Luther King; Jr. He had come to that city of racist terror convinced that massive protest could topple Jim Crow. But the insurgency faltered. To revive it; King made a sacrificial act on Good Friday; April 12; 1963: he was arrested. Alone in his cell; reading a newspaper; he found a statement from eight "moderate" clergymen who branded the protests extremist and "untimely." King drafted a furious rebuttal that emerged as the "Letter from Birmingham Jail"-a work that would take its place among the masterpieces of American moral argument alongside those of Thoreau and Lincoln. His insistence on the urgency of "Freedom Now" would inspire not just the marchers of Birmingham and Selma; but peaceful insurgents from Tiananmen to Tahrir Squares. Scholar Jonathan Rieder delves deeper than anyone before into the Letter-illuminating both its timeless message and its crucial position in the history of civil rights. Rieder has interviewed King's surviving colleagues; and located rare audiotapes of King speaking in the mass meetings of 1963. Gospel of Freedom gives us a startling perspective on the Letter and the man who wrote it: an angry prophet who chastised American whites; found solace in the faith and resilience of the slaves; and knew that moral appeal without struggle never brings justice.
#495229 in Books Wisdom Publications 2016-10-25 2016-10-25Original language:English 9.00 x .60 x 6.00l; .0 #File Name: 1614292310320 pagesWisdom Publications
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Highly Recommended both for scholars and for practitioners of Tibetan BuddhismBy Deborah CallowayI am a long time practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. This book provides a scholarly look at historical documentary materials relating to Padmasambhava; Tibetan Buddhism; Tibetan Buddhist texts; reincarnation; Tibetan Buddhist history; etc. Dan Hirshberg's research is informed both by his scholarly background and by his long-time study of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. I found the research; insights; and conclusions in this book extremely helpful to inform my understanding of the source of the teachings I have encountered and the practices I engage in.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. It explains the history of Padmasambhava in great detail; I really enjoyed the illustrations as wellBy rkaI have been studying Tibetan Buddhism for quite some time now and found this book very helpful. . It explains the history of Padmasambhava in great detail; I really enjoyed the illustrations as well. The authors insights are quite valuable. It is a book that I will go back to time and time again as a resource.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. What we know about PadmasabhavaBy Susan BusbyRemembering the Lotus-Born is a rich; scholarly look at one of the most revered meditation masters of Tibetan Buddhism. Like the book Zealot by Reza Aslan; Dan provides the facts that we know about Padmasambhava; and gives context for the mythology that was created around this figure. It is an important book for students of Tibetan Buddhism.
