Stories of Justice, Resilience, and Change to read this MLK Day

As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I’ve been thinking about how I want to honor his legacy this weekend. This year, I’ll be reflecting through reading A Sin by Any Other Name: Reckoning with Racism and the Heritage of the South by Robert W. Lee. With a foreword written by Rev. Dr. Bernice King, this memoir explores the author’s journey as a descendant of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, grappling with his family’s legacy and advocating for racial reconciliation. Dr. King’s teachings challenge us to confront uncomfortable truths and work towards justice and equality, and I'm optimistic this book will do just that. I've only just started my read, but this quote from the book's foreword gives me hope:

“In April 1963, my father wrote to the clergy his ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail.’ Now, fifty-five years later, Robert W. Lee IV, a descendant of General Robert E. Lee, has written the love letter to the church and to the South that you now hold in your hands . . . Perhaps for such a time as this, in answer to my father’s prayer, God has raised up Robert W. Lee IV to join the cause of opening ‘the channels of communication between races.’”
—Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King

If you’re looking for ways to reflect this weekend, I’ve put together a list of five more inspiring books. Each one, in its own way, connects to Dr. King’s and his family’s dedication to justice, love, and humanity.

1. Hard Questions, Heart Answers: Sermons and Speeches by Rev. Dr. Bernice King
A collection of heartfelt sermons and speeches by Dr. King’s youngest daughter. These pieces capture her powerful voice as she addresses love, justice, and humanity, continuing her father’s legacy in a profound and personal way.

“We must reclaim our anger and transform it into love that does not back down. Love that sees truth as truth. Love that seeks to heal and liberate.”
—Rev. Dr. Bernice King

2. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Leadership: Inspiration and Wisdom for Challenging Times by Donald T. Phillips, foreword by Dr. Bernice King
This book examines Dr. King’s leadership style, offering timeless lessons for inspiring change and leading with integrity. In a time when leadership often feels anything but inspiring—like the unfortunate irony of Donald Trump’s inauguration coinciding with Dr. Martin Luther King Day in 2017—this book feels especially relevant.

“Captures the essence of how one man can lead powerfully, yet peacefully, during times of social upheaval.”
—Dexter Scott King

3. Strength to Love by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A collection of sermons that delve into the spiritual and moral foundations of Dr. King’s activism. His reflections on forgiveness, justice, and nonviolence remain profoundly relevant today.

“For through violence you may murder a murderer, but you can't murder murder. Through violence you may murder a liar, but you can't establish truth. Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can't murder hate through violence. Darkness cannot put out darkness; only light can do that.”
—Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

4. My Life, My Love, My Legacy by Coretta Scott King, as told to Barbara Reynolds
This autobiography by Coretta Scott King offers an intimate look at her life as a leader, partner, and activist. Her story illuminates the strength and grace required to champion civil rights alongside Dr. King.

“Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in every generation.”
—Coretta Scott King

5. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
For those who prefer to reflect through fiction, this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel explores themes of race, resilience, and justice. Its deeply moving story resonates with the values that Dr. King and his family have long championed, authored by a civil rights activist who worked with Dr. King in the 1960s.

“I think us here to wonder, myself. To wonder. To ast. And that in wondering ’bout the big things and asting ’bout the big things, you learn ’bout the little ones, almost by accident.”
—Alice Walker

This selection offers powerful insights and heartfelt reflections that honor the enduring legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Which of these books will you be picking up this weekend?