Synopses & Reviews
This illuminating dialogue between Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda and Vincent Harding, a friend and advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr., recounts the historic events of the American civil rights movement, with an emphasis on the spiritual and philosophical values and ideas that they believe should guide all modern experiments in democracy. It sheds light on the contributions of major leaders such as King, Gandhi, and Obama, while also calling attention to the roles played by women and "ordinary people" in social justice struggles. Divided into 16 conversations, including chapters on character, encouragement, influence, and revolution, it reveals how the movements victories expressed a profound vision of freedom and equality through nonviolent social change. Above all, Harding and Ikeda offer a cross-cultural perspective with a core message of hope and human possibility.
Review
"I have long known that Vincent Harding is the most profound living interpreter of the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. His extended dialogue with internationally renowned Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda is packed with valuable insights about what Vincent calls the movement to 'expand democracy in America.' . . . As Harding and Ikeda learn from each other, readers of this inspiring book can listen and be enlightened." —Clayborne Carson, founding director, The King Institute at Stanford University
About the Author
Vincent Harding is a chairperson at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. He is the author of Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement and Martin Luther King: The Inconvenient Hero. He lives in Denver. Daisaku Ikeda is the founder and president of the Soka Gakkai International, a lay Buddhist organization with 12 million members worldwide. He has written and lectured widely on Buddhism, humanism, and ethics, and has published dialogues with global figures such as Arnold Toynbee, Linus Pauling, and Mikhail Gorbachev.