The Polished King: The Living Words of Martin Luther King Jr. - Paperback

by Joseph Evans (Author)

Joseph Evans analyzes how the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s preaching brought the "living word" and various rhetorical techniques together in ways that helped people understand, and be given hope by, his messages. The author observes that James Baldwin--himself a gifted writer and provocative thinker--considered King to be an "ideal preacher." This book weaves Baldwin's poetic and fiery words, passion for justice, and admiration of King's oration into a detailed, thought-provoking examination of the rhythm of determination and transformative power in King's speaking, writing, and faith.

Author Biography

JOSEPH EVANS is the Dean of the Morehouse School of Religion and the author of two other Judson Press titles, The Art of Eloquence: The Sacred Rhetoric of Gardner C. Taylor (2020) and Reconciliation and Reparation: Preaching Economic Justice (2018). He also published Lifting the Veil Over Eurocentrism: The Du Boisian Hermeneutic of Double Consciousness with Africa World Press (2014). He has written numerous essays for the American Baptist Quarterly. Dr. Gardner C. Taylor described him as one of the brilliant preachers of his generation" and Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker said, Dr. Evans is a master craftsman who is extremely adept in his understanding of how to prepare and deliver the prophetic sermon.