Parting the Waters : America in the King Years 1954-63 - Essay Example

The volume also tends to cover the family history of the king and life; the readers learn that the king graduates from Boston University. The inspiration to read the book came from the knowledge that Branch speaks in Birmingham AL in the period of June (Branch, 88). Some of the stories that Branch talks about that illustrate the character of King and the Civil Rights Movement Branch foregoes the supply of sainthood and shuns throwing stones. Branch brings out both the achievements and shortcomings of Marin Luther King.

The author depicts the height of intelligence displayed by the King’s Montgomery Bus Campaign and in Birmingham. The author captures the king struggles in dealing with the battles surrounding his denomination, as the national Baptist; the king experiences hardship dealing with NAACP coupled with his unfaithfulness. The FBI also tends to have a complicated analysis. Agents appear responsible in ensuring the implementation of the Southern law by the assigned officers; they insist on the protection of the African American rights.

They constantly made Civil Rights leaders aware of the threats and dangers they appear subject to face. However, there appears a time when the king disregards the FBI warnings that two of the king’s associates were communists, which appears determined to break the king. Hoover is a stubborn character loyal to the king, he who scolds an FBI agent for saying that the king’s agents are non communists (Branch, 284). Some of the characters that personalize the story of the Civil Rights movement as described in this book There appears another set of characters, Kennedy (John and Roberts); who also tend to have mixed analysis.

John Kennedy delivers an intelligent speech on the Night subsequent to the killing of Medgar Evers in Mississippi. Kennedy uses Biblical topics, which identifies Civil Rights, battle as an ethical issue dating back to the inception of scriptures. Contrary, Kennedy brothers appear immerses into to the political world rather than the moral reasons. The king takes advantage of the situation and hints to Kennedy that Nelson Rockefeller, who appears as a republican, can help Kennedy realize his dreams.

The notion that Democrat party favors the African Americans, the reality is contracting especially from the views of the 50s and the early 60s. Most black leaders tend to label themselves as republicans with Lincoln’s party especially individuals around the National Baptist Convention leadership (Branch, 412). The book also possesses a captivating aspect on the tasks black entertainers assumes in the movement. The king frequents relations with Harry Belafonte; later on the king attains connections with Sammy Davis Jr.

, James Baldwin, Jackie Robinson, Lena Homes among others. The story line later on depicts the civil Rights group into a context with a basis of Cold War politics. Eisenhower and Kennedy come to realize the irony that embarrasses them. They tend to actively advocates for democracy in other countries; while the Blacks in their country, the United States never got the taste of democracy (Branch, 287). The book culminates in the year 1963, a turning point year for civil rights. The king initiates the vast and serene March on ‘