Beyond Vietnam

With a new foreword by Viet Thanh Nguyen

A beautiful commemorative edition of Dr. Martin Luther King's speech "Beyond Vietnam,” part of Dr. King's archives published exclusively by HarperCollins.

At New York City's Riverside Church in 1967, Dr. King stood in front of a rapt audience and criticized the Vietnam War as a destructive act of force and a cruel manipulation of the poor—for those fighting on either side. He urged Americans to confront the harsh realities of war and consequently pursue a path where everyone is presented a choice, in his words, "a choice of nonviolent coexistence instead of violent coannihilation.”

This beautifully designed hardcover edition presents Dr. King’s speech in its entirety, paying tribute to this extraordinary leader and his immeasurable contribution, and inspiring a new generation of activists dedicated to carrying on the fight for justice and equality.

This powerful speech, delivered one year to the day before his assassination, is a timeless and startlingly relevant call to conscience.

• The Link Between Civil Rights and Peace: Dr. King's courageous and controversial argument that the fight for racial equality at home could not be separated from the anti-war movement abroad.
• An "Enemy of the Poor": A searing critique of how the war devastated America's marginalized communities, sending young men to fight for liberties they were denied themselves.
• A Revolution of Values: The urgent call to conquer the "giant triplets" of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism by shifting from a "thing-oriented" to a "person-oriented" society.
• Foreword by Viet Thanh Nguyen: A new introduction by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author that contextualizes the speech's enduring importance for a new generation.