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October 15th, 2010
04:07 PM ET
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s prayer life revealed
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was dozing off in his bedroom around midnight when the phone rang. “Listen, n**&**r, we’ve taken all we want from you,” a caller hissed. “Before next week, you’ll be sorry.” King hung up and walked to his kitchen to heat a pot of coffee. He had been receiving death-threats for weeks - ever since he had accepted a request to lead African-Americans during a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. But King was starting to doubt his decision. As the threats poured in, his fears increased for his wife, Coretta, and their infant daughter, Yolanda. He now wondered how he could relinquish his role as the boycott leader without appearing a coward. Then something happened that King would talk about for years afterward. He bowed over his untouched cup of coffee, and prayed aloud in desperation. King said he heard an “inner voice” that addressed him by name, and encouraged him to stand up for justice. King’s kitchen table prayer is part of what inspired Lewis V. Baldwin to write, “Never to Leave Us Alone: The Prayer Life of Martin Luther King Jr.” Baldwin, a religious studies professor at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, says most people know King as the great public orator, but few know about his rich prayer life. King crafted “some of the most strikingly and profoundly moving prayers in all of sacred literature.” Baldwin said. His kitchen table plea may have been his most important prayer. “It was a conversion experience for Dr. King,” Baldwin said. “King never had what, in the language of the church, is called ‘a crisis conversion.’ " Baldwin recently talked with CNN about King’s prayer life. His remarks were edited for brevity. CNN: What inspired you to examine Dr. King's prayer life? Baldwin: I have been interested in King's spirituality since the early 1980s, because I think we best understand him as a person of faith who translated certain kinds of spiritual and moral values into efforts for social change. So much has been written about King's preaching and pulpit style… but strangely enough, scholars who have treated these subjects ignore King's prayer life. CNN: Why was King’s kitchen prayer in Montgomery so pivotal for him? Baldwin: The experience reminded King that he could not depend on the resources of his talents and intellectual training to make it in the struggle. He came to see more clearly that religion had to be real to him in a special way as he confronted the pressures of the movement. After the kitchen experience, King felt a special divine companionship, or what he called cosmic companionship, and this sustained him. Fear left him and he was assured that if he continued to stand up for justice and righteousness, God would be with him. CNN: Did praying help prepare King for his long stints in jail? BALDWIN: Most definitely. As I point out in “Never to Leave Us Alone,” King was often in a prayerful mood. This prayerful mood was most evident when he was struggling with some special challenge. During the civil rights movement, jail cells were often turned into sacred space for what were essentially revival meetings. King and his aides sang and prayed in jail, calling to mind Paul and Silas. Great prayer meetings occurred in jail cells. I am convinced that prayer and meditation preceded the writing of the Birmingham Jail Letter, and that King wrote it in a prayerful mood. After all, it was a letter from a pastor to pastors. CNN: Did King ever get so emotional during public prayers that he could not finish? BALDWIN: This most certainly happened in Montgomery during the bus boycott in 1955. Surrounded by people who were constantly responding to his preaching and praying with shouts of "Amen," "Hallelujah," "Praise God," it was very difficult for King not to get emotional. His emotions came out that night because he felt some guilt and responsibility as he thought about the bombing of homes and churches that were occurring. As a boy, King was ashamed of the shouting and other expressions of emotionalism in southern black churches, but he overcame that in his adult life and came to a deeper appreciation of the rich emotional heritage of black churches. CNN: Was public prayer just as important as freedom songs were in fortifying King and other civil rights leaders? BALDWIN: When people wanted to take control of their sacred space, they sang and prayed. This happened when sheriffs and constables entered black churches during mass meetings, or when the protesters confronted mobs and symbols of segregation in the streets. One cannot talk about prayer and songs separately; they were one in the consciousness of those who felt that God was on their side, and who were inspired by the church.
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A person necessarily help to make critically posts I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and to this point? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular publish amazing. Fantastic job!
I look forward to reading Professor Baldwin's Book. Even though Dr. King is no longer with us his dreams will live on in our children and grandchildren,etc. Thanks to people like Dr. Baldwin who continue to share his life with us. Dr. King did so much for us, it is my pleasure to learn everything i can about him.
@MOO
I did the google for you!
You said, "Ah yes, and because Johnson was a Democrat, the Democrats are to thank for the Civil Rights Act?"
Wikipedia:
In late November 1963 the Assassination of John F. Kennedy totally changed the political situation. The new president, Lyndon Johnson, utilized his experience in legislative politics and the bully pulpit he wielded as president in support of the bill.
I said, "The religious people in the South fought against these rights."
Wikipedia:
The bill came before the full Senate for debate on March 30, 1964 and the "Southern Bloc" of 18 southern Democratic Senators and one Republican Senator led by Richard Russell (D-GA) launched a filibuster to prevent its passage. Said Russell: "We will resist to the bitter end any measure or any movement which would have a tendency to bring about social equality and intermingling and amalgamation of the races in our (Southern) states."
This was true. At that time the South voted Democrat. Once the Dems began to move away from the racist att_itudes that the bible belt wanted, they went Red.
Hmm...Right again big Dave!
I said, "The Bible Belt once again reared its ugly head when it came time to strike done laws forbidding interracial marriage."
Wikipedia:
In 1967, 17 Southern states (all the former slave states plus Oklahoma) still enforced laws prohibiting marriage between whites and people of color. Maryland repealed its law in response to the start of the proceedings at the Supreme Court. After the ruling of the Supreme Court, the remaining laws were no longer in effect. Nonetheless, it took South Carolina until 1998 and Alabama until 2000 to officially amend their states' consti_tutions to remove language prohibiting miscegenation.
WoW , Dave! You are right again!!
Racist att_itudes are not the sole property of the ultra-religious Bible Belt, but they certainly are head and shoulders above the rest! It's funny to, they can always show you god's word on the subjects they are against.
The Teabag wing of the Republican Party is full of lunatics and racists. Rand Paul would allow privately owned businesses to refuse service to non-whites. He wants to debate the Civil Rights Act. The sc_um bag.
Republicans are puppets of the Religious Right. If they win big in November, they will begin to create a theocracy. Jesus will be the head of state. The Religious Right will tell us His Will.
If I had my way, there would be no Republicans in office. Our country must progress. Jesus, if he existed, would want it that way.
Happy Trails Pardner!
Dr. King was a great man who was a true follower of Christ, no doubt. But once he started speaking out on Vietnam, that was it for him. They killed him like they killed JFK, RFK, Lennon, Bob Marley (I do believe he was murdered somehow), Benazir Bhutto and so many others.
May they all rest in peace.
He lived a purposeful life, but it was delusional. He was mostly inspired by Gandhi who showed how things can be achieved in a non violent way. The mistake that is so often made is credit the less deserved as always and help the sheep move forward. I was a Richard Dawkins event at Howard University 2 weeks back and the theme was something along scientific discourse in the black community. What I saw was unbelievable, handfull of black kids asking utmost stupid questions. One girl asked why do u want convert me into an atheist?!!!
hasky
He lived a purposeful life, but it was delusional. He was mostly inspired by Gandhi who showed how things can be achieved in a non violent way. The mistake that is so often made is credit the less deserved as always and help the sheep move forward. I was a Richard Dawkins event at Howard University 2 weeks back and the theme was something along scientific discourse in the black community. What I saw was unbelievable, handfull of black kids asking utmost stupid questions. One girl asked why do u want convert me into an atheist?!!!
============== =====
Wow! What an awakening glimpse in the dark mind of a typical left wing monster.
All the "liberals suk" cliches rolled in to one!
I'm not obsessive about religion, but I CHOOSE to believe in God, it's comforting
& I'm proud to know MLK was also a good Christian. If that fact doesn't suit your shady agenda TF'nBad.
I see what Glen Beck means..I see it clearer every day.
I commend Dr King for still spreading the word of truth that all people are created equal regardless of the threats on his life. His teachings can be applied to anyone and everyone. Even those that do not fit the norm. Great man...sad loss of life.
Thank you this fine report. As a student, at Vanderbilt, I had the an opportunity to meet and hear Dr. King. Then, he impressed me as the bravest & most intelligent man I had ever met. And the same today. Look forward to reading Prof. Baldwin's book.
@ray gibbs
Wow... you got to meet Rev. King himself..?!!! How wonderful that must have been..? If you would, or are willing to, I would love to hear your impressions, and any other thoughts about Rev. King and your experience in meeting him...
That must have been incredible...
Thanks for commenting...
@ray gibbs
I envy you. I only wish he were still around so the rest of us could meet him too. He would have been our first "black" President, I think, had he lived.
You must be pretty old, I'm guessing. Hang in there. We've got some kids who need to hear some sense running around without a clue about that stuff. Good luck. 🙂
He must have beseeched the Lord to send him some white women, because that's how this saint spent his last night on Earth, according to his friend and comrade Abernathy.
Regarding the book written about MLK's prayer life, how do we know that he did not have a "crisis conversion"? How do we really know what was happening in his deep inner thought life? Many sources talk about his numerous extramarital affairs. So, we do not know if/when those started or ended, and how that was affecting the interpersonal dynamics of his life. That can put people into crisis mode. Personally, I would not be interested in reading prayers from such a person, but he was an excellent civil rights leader.
He went to Memphis to help the garbage workers get better pay. The guy that shot him sped away in a Green Mustang. The police chased him, but he got away. They knew who he was all the time. How do I know?
I was listening to the police radio from my home when it all came about. I think those recording were trashed by either the MPD or the FBI.
MLK was trully an inspiring figure and I am glad there is a day in his honor. Obama is such a poor comparison and such an small man. The Black community has been led astray by it leaders and the liberal media. White people for all our faults have in the vast majority reach across the asile. The in your face Black miliant behavior has set back race relations 50 years. The liberal media knows what Obama and others have done and have stayed silent, just the people in Germany who allowed the Jews to be exterminated. Liberals are socialist, socialists are liberal. Ken Krieger Cape Coral, Florida
Pfui! The Teabag division of the Republican party are racist lunatics. The Republican Party has the hand of the Religious Right shoved up their back sides, just like Charlie McCarthy.
This country was racist long before Obama. Reading your post made a little bit of vomit come up in the back of my throat.
The poor and middle class better wake up and get out and vote. Do you want the Religious Right calling the shots? Do you want the Republicans taking away Social Security and Medicare and slashing the food stamp program? Do you want the programs for children done away with?
Fight the good fight, people. I can't do it all by myself!!!
Again, the Republican Party is the party of rich, white men. They care nothing for women's rights.
If the Republicans take over Congress, we will be dancing to the music selected by the Religious Right.
Do you want that? Do you want your morals decided by a group that talks to a non-existent god?
@Kenneth Krieger
I can't say it any better than my friend Dave here above....... Did you just not think before you posted...? Or are you that brainwashed..? I mean please..'black militant in your face'.... say wut...?
You're right that whites have reached across the aisle, but the perpetual state of grievance in which "minorities" exist makes them implacable.
BTW, I wouldn't blame it on "socialists" or "liberals" per se. I'd look at your co-ethnics to see who's enabled/propagandized/funded the last five decades of destruction of this once great country.
I think someone is being deliberately racist in the hopes that someone will attack this "Kenneth Krieger" – It would make more sense to me that way. Nobody with any brains is going to give his location after a post like that, so it must be, I'm guessing, an enemy of Mr. Krieger who seeks to do him harm by proxy.
Just speculatin'
@Raison
Hmmmm....... Now I hadn't thought of that. A little conspiracy theory...interesting Raison..
After reading the post more than once, the author seems to say one thing and then another.
Raison might be right, but maybe the author really is as stupid as all that. We're talking right-wing-nuts here!
A life committed to God can do great things! Jesus said "apart from me you can do nothing." If we remain in Him we will bear much fruit." Thank You Lord for Martin Luther King's life and example."
Amen.
Such words coming from some of resident atheists. It's amazing that MLK made such incredible progress despite being handicapped by the support and guidance of religion. Or are you two considering considering coming over from the Dark Side?
I'm surprised that people who splash around in the shallow end of the religion pool are capable of such deep insight into someone like MLK. Or are you just offering obligatory pc praise so you don't look like total fools? Your hubris is... impressive. Not so your courage.
Yes, it really is too bad about Obama. I guess he's a just politician after all.
And now our regularly-scheduled godless programming will continue. David, you're up.
@honestanon
I see no reason for you to question the motives, of the comment, from Peace2All.
King was a great leader. He helped lead the nation to the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Certainly Lyndon Johnson, a democrat, played a huge role in this also. (google moment)
The religious people in the South fought against these rights. (google moment)
The Bible Belt once again reared its ugly head when it came time to strike done laws forbidding interracial marriage.
Most atheists, are today, in favor of giving gay people their civil rights. Once again, the religious are against this. Hmm...
The Christians in this nation have always been closed minded bigots.
Obama is one of our greatest presidents. He has endured racist attacks on himself and his family. A black senator was spit on – SPIT ON – on this way to congress. Racism is alive and well in our country.
The Republican party are racist. They are for rich, white men. Christians should not vote for them.
I don't remember many of your posts, blasting any of my arguments against religion to pieces...Are there any? Will I be forced to endure your keen wit and sharp tongue in the future. Will I be forced to climb beneath a rock to avoid your arguments? Just curious.
@honestanon
Ah, I see you are back at making feeble attempts to attack me and others.
What are we going to do with you @honestanon....? Really... !
As for my posting to MLK..... You even try and take issue with that... ? You're kidding right..? I thought EVEN 'you' wouldn't stoop to such ignorant vitriol and hate.
So, again, I have absolute respect and reverance for someone (MLK) who truly made a difference in the face of hate-mongering bigots like yourself @honestanon.
My post stands.... Rev. King pushed for equality, and stood up against bigotry and intolerance against people such as yourself who bash on 'every muslim' person.
By the way, @honestanon, do you know where he learned his philosophy and actions from of 'civil disobedience.'....? Don't know... thought not.
He went to visit Gandhi(a person of Hinduism), and spent time with him learning the ways of 'peace'. And where did Gandhi learn about this... from a truly religion of peace.. Jainism.
@Peace2all
Your kung-fu is stronger, peace2all. What's your secret? Breathing techniques? Head-against-wall exercises? LOL 😛
Just laughin'
@Raison
It's getting to practice against people like @honestanon, who consistently make racist, ignorant posts.
He is fairly new to the CNN belief blogs, but likes to 'try' and attack people like You, Me, David Johnson, NL, Luke, Kate, etc...
As you can see, from my initial positive posting about Rev. King, who I have tremendous regard for he personally, and his courage and what he stood for, and....
This is @honestanon's 'modus operandi'..... attack someone personally about someone who made an extremely positive post about Rev. King. @honestanon truly is a 'TROLL' of the worst kind.
Oh, in case you hadn't noticed... he included you in that absolute non-sense that he posted. And, went after Dave, as he has done in the past.
Just be on notice.... @honestanon is ..... well, lets' just say... 'he's a real piece of work... a 'hoot'... I would say.
And...BTW Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpo workouts going just fine... 🙂
Take care pal....
@Raison
Forgot, my technique.... as far as @honestanon, and others of his ilk......... it is definitely 'Head-against-wall exercises..! 🙂
@Peace2all
LOL...that's good to know. I did not feel a need to respond to that post for many reasons, some of which I share with you.
Strangely enough, it didn't strike me as being extremely provocative or anything. I thought it was pretty lame, actually.
MLK was just a man, but he did a good thing, an honorable thing, and it took major guts to face what he did.
The color of his skin doesn't mean a damn thing – that was his message as far as I'm concerned, and I took it to heart as a small child when someone explained to me what it was all about. It made sense, what he said. I couldn't figure out why everyone on both sides seemed so excited about it all.
The man was just talkin' sense. And no, honestanon, he did not need religion to talk sense, in my opinion.
What bothers me is the racism still bubblin' in the "black" communities – or in some of the individuals' hearts, I should say.
Just because I'm against the delusions inherent in religious activities, thought, etc., doesn't mean I can't honor someone for doing the right thing.
But I've run into people who want to "own" MLK and not let me honor him because I am not "black enough" – what nonsense.
I have more empathy than they think, but you just can't reason with some people.
What a shock.
@Raison
As usual.... we are in agreement. Good chatting...
*without fear mongering – but i'm sure you got that
david: "King was a great leader. He helped lead the nation to the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Certainly Lyndon Johnson, a democrat, played a huge role in this also. (google moment)"
Ah yes, and because Johnson was a Democrat, the Democrats are to thank for the Civil Rights Act?
Perhaps reviewing a bit of history would do you some good. It was thanks to moderate Democrats and the Republicans under Dirksen than the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed. The difficulty in getting it passed was thanks to the racist southern Democrats who chaired all the committees in Congress. You might want to check the voting records from Congress (Google moment).
You might also want to remember that the Republicans wrote the 13th and 14th amendments, and introduced Civil Rights legislation in the 1870's that was struck down by the Supreme Court.
Much less, the Republicans pushed for such civil rights as women's suffrage (Roosevelt) and again introduced Civil Rights legislation in the 1940's under Eisenhower.
That's quite a history of progress, especially from a political party you're so ready to belittle as being backwards and bigoted.
"The religious people in the South fought against these rights. (google moment)"
Not really. The religious in this country, for the most part, fought tooth and nail for abolition, women's rights and so on.
If you're going to paint Christians as bigots because of a few morons in the South, you might want to bring up the vast majority of the ones who fought against them everywhere else in the country.
"The Republican party are racist. They are for rich, white men. Christians should not vote for them."
Your narrow minded dogmatism is nauseating, really.
I did the google for you!
You said, "Ah yes, and because Johnson was a Democrat, the Democrats are to thank for the Civil Rights Act?"
Wikipedia:
In late November 1963 the Assassination of John F. Kennedy totally changed the political situation. The new president, Lyndon Johnson, utilized his experience in legislative politics and the bully pulpit he wielded as president in support of the bill.
I said, "The religious people in the South fought against these rights."
Wikipedia:
The bill came before the full Senate for debate on March 30, 1964 and the "Southern Bloc" of 18 southern Democratic Senators and one Republican Senator led by Richard Russell (D-GA) launched a filibuster to prevent its passage. Said Russell: "We will resist to the bitter end any measure or any movement which would have a tendency to bring about social equality and intermingling and amalgamation of the races in our (Southern) states."
This was true. At that time the South voted Democrat. Once the Dems began to move away from the racist att_itudes that the bible belt wanted, they went Red.
Hmm...Right again big Dave!
I said, "The Bible Belt once again reared its ugly head when it came time to strike done laws forbidding interracial marriage."
Wikipedia:
In 1967, 17 Southern states (all the former slave states plus Oklahoma) still enforced laws prohibiting marriage between whites and people of color. Maryland repealed its law in response to the start of the proceedings at the Supreme Court. After the ruling of the Supreme Court, the remaining laws were no longer in effect. Nonetheless, it took South Carolina until 1998 and Alabama until 2000 to officially amend their states' consti_tutions to remove language prohibiting miscegenation.
WoW , Dave! You are right again!!
Racist att_itudes are not the sole property of the ultra-religious Bible Belt, but they certainly are head and shoulders above the rest! It's funny to, they can always show you god's word on the subjects they are against.
The Teabag wing of the Republican Party is full of lunatics and racists. Rand Paul would allow privately owned businesses to refuse service to non-whites. He wants to debate the Civil Rights Act. The sc_um bag.
Republicans are puppets of the Religious Right. If they win big in November, they will begin to create a theocracy. Jesus will be the head of state. The Religious Right will tell us His Will.
If I had my way, there would be no Republicans in office. Our country must progress. Jesus, if he existed, would want it that way.
Happy Trails Pardner!
MLK- A man who stood up against the ignorance, bigotry and hatred...and held his ground for progressive change and equality.
@Peace2all
Hi, dude!
I like that. Kinda wish I had wrote it, too. 😛
He was a man you knew you could trust. Not many of them these days. I've just had a bit of a shock where the Obama
Administration is concerned.
I may not vote for him again if this vicious continuation of Republican policies keeps going.
Just disappointed
Raison, two points:
1) It's all relative. You shouldn't have expected him to dismantle government–there are going to be many policies that are standing US government policies (not Republican policies per se) but there are nuanced differences that are important in many places.
2) Many seem to have forgotten just how bad it was under Bush–the outright lying, the pursuit of irrelevant military objectives in Iraq, the treasonous exposure of Valerie Plame, the politically motivated firiing of attorneys, the unprecedented gerrymandering of congressional districts, the ignorance of science in favor of ideology, the belligerence toward allies.
@rafael
No, I have not forgotten and am not trying to be unrealistic about it. Just sayin' there's a definite hard-line collection, some big, some small, of right-wing policies, a few of them in place for the last hundred years.
What makes me angry is that some of them can be changed as easily as a pair of socks, and they have not been simply because of politics as usual. And that means money. Just money. That's all. Nothing to see here, folks.
Relative is relative. I've only had my eye on a dozen or so things I expected to see change on. A few "changes" have not been much of a "change". Just disappointed is all. You aren't going to be able to change that with a few platltudes.
But thanks for trying. 😛