I’ve Seen the Promised Land

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is one of the most celebrated figures of the twentieth century. A crusader for nonviolent social justice, he led African Americans in their demands for equality through peaceful protests during one of the most tumultuous times in recent history.

Set against key moments in the civil rights movement, here is the story of the powerful, eloquent spiritual leader and his belief that nonviolence could be used to overcome racial discrimination.

Walter Dean Myers’s moving narrative and Leonard Jenkins’s compelling paintings portray a vivid and striking image of the man who moved American society closer to the ideals of freedom and fairness. Dr. King’s dream that all Americans would be judged by their individual actions and character is one we still cherish today.

“Leonard Jenkins’s paintings are both novel and striking.” “In a clear and cogent manner, Myers frames King’s political efforts and his belief in nonviolent demonstration for change with information about the personal consequences to the man and his family. Jenkins’s stunning collage artwork dramatically reflects the events described in the narrative. This book makes an excellent starting point to introduce young readers to King.” “Jenkins’s artwork is potent and explosive, freely melding finely drafted faces with almost photorealistic features, broad swaths of thickly applied media, hasty swirls of streetwise graffiti, superheated colors bursting from shadows, and Biblical imagery befitting a man of the cloth. Do you really need yet another biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? When it’s this one, yes, you do.” “The focus here is on his public image, and words and art combine the essentials of his life story with an overview of the civil rights movement. Jenkins’ dramatic, double-page collage illustrations set close-up portraits of the leader against crowd scenes of political marches and violent conflict. Then, after the glory of the March on Washington, there’s a double-page spread showing the horror of the Birmingham deaths. The book ends with King’s assassination, but words and pictures show his strength and his enduring message against racism and for peace.”