The Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr

Book excerpt: This volume explores the development of Martin Luther King, Jr's understanding of the relationship between religion, morality, law and politics. This work is part of a broader effort by scholars in various fields to examine unexplored areas in the life, thought and activism of Martin Luther King, Jr. This study is also an in-depth analysis of King's views on the roles that religion and morality ought to play, not only in public debate concerning political choices and law, but also in efforts to create political and legal structures that are just and to perpetuate participatory democracy. Beginning with the social, political and economic implications of King's vision of the New South and his prophetic critique of southern civil religion, this study casts King in the role of political liberal, consummate politician and political theologian. This book focuses attention on King's refusal to separate religious faith and moral considerations from politics, legal matters and social reformism. It demonstrates King's remarkable abilitiy to transcend church-state boundaries and to formulate an alliance that permeated every facet of American life.