"The twelve months leading up to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination. Martin Luther King, Jr. died in one of the most shocking assassinations the world has known, but little is remembered about the life he led in his final year. Tavis Smiley recounts the final 365 days of King's life, revealing the minister's trials and tribulations -- denunciations by the press, rejection from the president, dismissal by the country's Black middle class and militants, assaults on his character, ideology, and political tactics, to name a few -- all of which he had to rise above in order to lead and address the racism, poverty, and militarism that threatened to destroy our democracy. A portrait of a leader and visionary and an exceptional glimpse into King's life -- one that adds both nuance and gravitas to his legacy as an American hero"--Provided by publisher.

Part I. Four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter -- "Vocation of agony" -- "Betraying the cause" -- "The language of the unheard" -- "Anxiety and sorrow in my heart" -- The bloodiest month of all -- Where do we go from here? -- Cities aflame -- Respect -- Chaos -- Ominous clouds -- "I, Martin Luther King, take thee, non-violence, to be my wedded wife" -- Ironic anniversary -- Part II. Final season: the last three months -- 39 -- Confession -- Drum major -- Humility, levity, and longevity -- Frantic melancholy -- Restless heart -- Garment of destiny -- Firemen -- Midnight hour in Memphis -- Freedom explosion -- The mountaintop in Memphis -- April 4, 1968 -- Epilogue.