And I'm anxious to read the second. MLK is 7 years younger than I, so I look at him through the eyes of someone who has seen major questions arise in Woman's lib. In the 1970's our local chapter of NOW discussed bringing in more black women. It was widely believed that they were holding their activism to a low key because it was important in early civil rights days to give their men a shot at being perceived as men. If we think of Barbara Jordan, who was so forceful during the Nixon impeachment hearings, or Donna Brazile, who ran Al Gore's southern campaign, we know that many black women were not so reticent.
In Dr. King's work, there were many black female leaders, especially in organizing the youth for demonstrations and voter drives. Prof. Taylor holds no punches with MLK's attitude toward women, and I was glad to see his forthrightness. I've had hints from African-Americans that there was always a preacher/teacher team in their society. He tells em. She shows em how. It's like the white society. I always remember "High Noon" with the schoolmarm and the sheriff. And that points to economic opportunity. Dr. King's real coming to grips with the struggle was, in my view, made when he gave his last speech in Memphis. Give men a decent wage and get them off the battlefield.