Judge For Yourself: Martin Luther King by Christine Hatt, pub 2009,Evans Publishing, p/b £9.99, ISBN: 978  0 237 53624 4

Reviewed by Alf Wilkinson

This is a re-issue of a book published in 2002, but now out in paperback for the first time. The first part of the book is a detailed biography of Martin Luther King, put carefully into context with, for examples, spreads on Slavery in the USA and the ‘Jim Crow' Laws.  This would provide enough detail for anyone researching the details of King's life.

The second part, and hence the ‘judge for yourself' title, focuses on some of the key issues surrounding King. Was he a preacher or a politician? Was non-violence an inspired or a naïve policy? Was Civil Rights Legislation a success or a failure? Each of these sections is made up of a pair of double-page spreads; the first one putting the arguments and evidence in favour of the proposition, and the second counter-arguments and evidence. It is effective at provoking thought and debate about the role and achievements of Martin Luther King.

The publisher suggests that this book is effective at Key Stage 3 and above. I suspect most Key Stage 3 pupils woould find much of the text challenging. Nevertheless teachers will find the book a great way to target Significance at KSt3, and a a supporting text for GCSE work on Civil Rights in America. Have a look at it and think about a copy for the library, for Citizenship and RE, as well as history.