Taylor Branch Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Taylor Branch - Essay Example Pillar of Fire explores the civil upheavals between the years 1960 and 1965. Mississippi Freedom Summer, Civil Rights Act of 1964, and LBJ’s Great Society; the book provides a clear portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. on how he was hunted by hatred, factionalism and black mail (Taylor 271). Taylor Branchs relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is that Taylor has been working on hisbiography for many years. His books also chronicals the history of the civil rights movement, which was led by Dr. King. To explain the life and times of Dr. King, is like recounting a story of how America become a modern society, approximately 50 years ago after the start of the century. The century’s destiny was to ensure that civil equity announced in 1776 will be a reality. The novel begins and ends with violence; demonstrations occur in Fla, Selma and St. Augustine; President Kennedy is assassinated and the United States of America participates deeply in Vietnam, and Malcolm X disagreed with the Islam nation, this made him face assassination; and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The president thereafter began serious lobbying for the equally important 1965 Voting Rights. The author gives Dr. King epic treatment in the book, illustrating that he was a hero. During King’s life; the black Americans finished their movement from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. 96% of black Americans voted for Lyndon Johnson in the 1964 presidential elections. However, the quasi-feudal political structure in the south gave undue influence to the racists’ political leaders whose main purpose was to destroy King’s goals. Presidents Johnson’s support of the civil right legislations clearly dominates this book. King’s leadership faced a major obstacle of terror through racism. The author also explains in details the violence that