My Life, My Love, My Legacy

By: Coretta Scott King, Barbara Reynolds

Narrated by: January LaVoy, Phylicia Rashad

Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

The life story of Coretta Scott King - wife of Martin Luther King Jr., founder of the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and singular 20th-century American civil rights activist - as told fully for the first time, toward the end of her life, to one of her closest friends.

Born in 1927 to daringly enterprising black parents in the Deep South, Coretta Scott had always felt called to a special purpose. One of the first black scholarship students recruited to Antioch College, a committed pacifist, and a civil rights activist, she was an avowed feminist - a graduate student determined to pursue her own career - when she met Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister insistent that his wife stay home with the children. But in love and devoted to shared Christian beliefs and racial justice goals, she married King, and events promptly thrust her into a maelstrom of history throughout which she was a strategic partner, a standard bearer, a marcher, a negotiator, and a crucial fund-raiser in support of world-changing achievements.

As a widow and single mother of four, while butting heads with the all-male African American leadership of the times, she championed gay rights and AIDS awareness, founded the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, lobbied for 15 years to help pass a bill establishing the US national holiday in honor of her slain husband, and was a powerful international presence, serving as a UN ambassador and playing a key role in Nelson Mandela's election.

Coretta's is a love story, a family saga, and the memoir of an independent-minded black woman in 20th-century America, a brave leader who stood committed, proud, forgiving, nonviolent, and hopeful in the face of terrorism and violent hatred every single day of her life. This program includes archival recordings of Coretta Scott King and is read by Phylicia Rashad and January LaVoy.

Phylicia Rashad is an actress, singer, and stage director. She is known for roles in television shows such as Empire and Psych and as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show. Her voice-over credits include spots in The Cleveland Show, Little Bill, and Sofia the First. Rashad has also appeared in such films as For Colored Girls, Good Deeds, and Creed.

©2017 Estate of Coretta Scott King (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

"Phylicia Rashad narrates the bulk of this audiobook with January LaVoy, and both do a superb job. Rashad's insistent voice and gentle tone reflect both the strength and quiet dignity that characterized King's life." ( AudioFile)

Inspirational memoir

This is a posthumous memoir of Coretta Scott King (1927-2006). Apparently, King narrated the memoir to Rev. Barbara Reynolds in 2006 along with some interviews. Reynolds was a longtime friend of King. The book covers her life from birth to death.

King tells of the racial hatred she had to endure growing up in Alabama, the whites burning her family home when she was a child, and racial discrimination throughout most of her life. She tells of her life with MLK, the bombing of their home on January 30, 1956 with her and her children inside. She also tells of MLK’s assassination and her years after his death. King also tells of her aspiration for a musical career and her scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music. The book reveals Coretta as a person out from the shadows of her famous husband.
Coretta Scott King was the first African-American to lie in State in the Georgia State Capitol upon her death.
I enjoyed reading the memoir of a most remarkable woman.

LaVoy and Rashad did a good job narrating the book. January LaVoy is a Broadway actor, voice-over artist and audiobook narrator. Phylicia Rashad is and actress and audiobook narrator.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

My Life, My Love, My Legacy

This book educated me so much. I could not put it down. I felt as if I really new each family member and other characters. I learned so much about Mrs. King and Dr. Kings' childhood, marriage, family and public life. I truly believe that the King family was called by God.
I am extremely happy that I purchased this book through audible. Listening, allowed me to really HEAR!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

An incredible inspiration

As I was listening to this book, Donald Trump was inaugurated and the following day women all over the world put on pink knit caps and demonstrated. A certain singer made a profanity laced speech and said she wanted to blow up the White House. No matter what your political views are, both Martin Luther King Jr, and Coretta Scott King would have been appalled by today's behavior. They achieved world wide change and they did it by marching and speech making and pointing out difficult but absolute truths. They did this with integrity and dignity. They did not back down even as many men, women and children were gassed, beaten, blown up, jailed, had fire hoses and police dogs turned on them, and were assassinated. But they were never violent, vulgar, they never spoke "alternative truths". This book is well written, the narrator is excellent. I was 9 years old when MLK was assassinated and I vividly remember watching these events unfold.

4 of 7 people found this review helpful

Interesting but a bit wordy

She surprisingly covers it all and more. It’s her book so she has to talk about her children which is really of little interest to most people.

It’s worth a read. Skip the chapters about the children and run through the first few flowery pages.

Important, Moving, Educational, Entertaining

Before, during and after the assassination of her husband. The story of her life and the legacy she left behind in her husband's name, for her children, for all of us. She was a power house. You will walk away with new knowledge and a new perspective. Thank you CSK, thank you, thank your husband and thank your children for the love and sacrifice you all gave to the world. Read this book, listen to this book, suggest it to your friends and family. The narrators did more than justice for the story, of course the didnt sound like Coretta Scott King but you quickly forget that as you become totally immersed in the story of this civil rights leaders life. They did an amazing job, so much so that you will be seeking out other books they've narrated. I had the pleasure of listening to this just weeks prior to my first visit to Sweet Auburn, the Freedom Center and the Tomb and Reflecting Pool inATL where Coretta Scott King and MLK jr. now spend eternity for generations to come to view and learn about civil liberties and nonviolence. Bravo B. Reynolds, you took the life of a strong and powerful woman an important one to be shared and gave us the gift of reading/hearing it. Read/listen this book you wont regret it.

Inspiring

This book was absolutely inspiring and should be required in history courses. I would listen to many more hours if it were possible.

Lithonia, GA

I truly enjoyed this book. i highly recommend this book. i have learned so much about Mrs King. Great book.

Worth the listen

The audio book is very enlightening when it comes to this beautiful woman. I'm glad I purchased the book.

Eye Opening

I am so glad that I read this book. Mrs. Coretta Scott King is an extraordinary woman and her story is even more extraordinary. God had blessed her with Incredible strength and Grace beyond what one could measure.

Wonderful Book!

I learned things that I hadn't known before a out this very important movement, about Dr. King, Jr., and especially about Mrs King. Her role was as important after MLK's murder as it was during movement.
Thank you Mrs. Coretta Scott King!