Synopses & Reviews
On August 28, 1963 hundreds of thousands of demonstrators flocked to the nations capital for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. It was Clayborne Carsons first demonstration. A nineteen year old black student from a working-class family in New Mexico, Carson hitched a ride to Washington. Unsure how he would return home, he was nonetheless certain that he wanted to connect with the youthful protesters and community organizers who spearheaded the freedom struggle. Decades later, Coretta Scott King selected Dr. Carson—then a history professor at Stanford University-- to edit the papers of her late husband.
In this candid and engrossing memoir, he traces his evolution from political activist to activist scholar. He vividly recalls his involvement in the movements heyday and in the subsequent turbulent period when Kings visionary Dream became real for some and remained unfulfilled for others. He recounts his conversations with key African Americans of the past half century, including Black Power firebrand Stokely Carmichael and dedicated organizers such as Ella Baker and Bob Moses. His description of his long-term relationship with Coretta Scott King sheds new light on her crucial role in preserving and protecting her late husbands legacy.
Written from the unique perspective of a renowned scholar, this highly readable account gives readers valuable new insights about the global significance of Kings inspiring ideas and his still unfolding legacy
Review
“Drawing from his personal journals and records, Carson offers a personal and candid account of his evolution from political activist into a self-described ‘activist scholar in his new book Martin's Dream.”--Black Christian News
“[Carson] details his work on the vast number of King documents he and his colleagues have assembled, his complex interactions with the King family and others, and his evolving view of Dr. King -- from an African American civil rights leader to a farsighted visionary and revolutionary advocate for global peace, economic fairness and social justice. He also calls attention to the significant discoveries of the King Papers project that have received little public attention.”--History News Network
“The founding director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute reviews his own life, tells how he became involved with the publication of Kings papers, and charts the complicated choreography of his relationship with the King family. . .Compelling aspects of memoir and cultural history.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Carsons testament to the universal relevance of Kings ideas and farsighted vision behind his emphasis on cooperation among people of all colors adds an insightful perspective on Kings mighty accomplishments” —Publishers Weekly
“A remarkably candid memoir. . . No matter how much you may think you know about the Civil Rights Movement, you will learn from Carsons journey and will likely be surprised by the many challenges he faced as he struggled to define and to preserve Dr. Kings many contributions for posterity.” —Michelle Alexander, author of the bestselling The New Jim Crow
“Clayborne Carsons compelling memoir is full of meaningful insights. This book is a must-read!”—Clarence Jones, author of Behind the Dream
“Clay Carsons compelling personal story confirms Coretta Kings wisdom in entrusting the Martin Luther King papers to his care. We owe Clay a tremendous debt of gratitude for bringing us a richer understanding of Martin King and the philosophy of creative non-violence to which he gave his life. We are still on a journey to Martins ‘Beloved Community and we are fortunate Clay Carson has shared his own journey with us.” —Andrew Young, author of Walk In My Shoes
Review
“Drawing from his personal journals and records, Carson offers a personal and candid account of his evolution from political activist into a self-described ‘activist scholar in his new book Martin's Dream.”--Black Christian News
“[Carson] details his work on the vast number of King documents he and his colleagues have assembled, his complex interactions with the King family and others, and his evolving view of Dr. King -- from an African American civil rights leader to a farsighted visionary and revolutionary advocate for global peace, economic fairness and social justice. He also calls attention to the significant discoveries of the King Papers project that have received little public attention.”--History News Network
“The founding director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute reviews his own life, tells how he became involved with the publication of Kings papers, and charts the complicated choreography of his relationship with the King family. . .Compelling aspects of memoir and cultural history.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Carsons testament to the universal relevance of Kings ideas and farsighted vision behind his emphasis on cooperation among people of all colors adds an insightful perspective on Kings mighty accomplishments” —Publishers Weekly
“A remarkably candid memoir. . . No matter how much you may think you know about the Civil Rights Movement, you will learn from Carsons journey and will likely be surprised by the many challenges he faced as he struggled to define and to preserve Dr. Kings many contributions for posterity.” —Michelle Alexander, author of the bestselling The New Jim Crow
“Clayborne Carsons compelling memoir is full of meaningful insights. This book is a must-read!”—Clarence Jones, author of Behind the Dream
“Clay Carsons compelling personal story confirms Coretta Kings wisdom in entrusting the Martin Luther King papers to his care. We owe Clay a tremendous debt of gratitude for bringing us a richer understanding of Martin King and the philosophy of creative non-violence to which he gave his life. We are still on a journey to Martins ‘Beloved Community and we are fortunate Clay Carson has shared his own journey with us.” —Andrew Young, author of Walk In My Shoes
Synopsis
On August 28, 1963, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators flocked to the nation’s capital for the March on Washington. That day Clayborne Carson, a 19-year-old black student from a working-class family in New Mexico who had hitched a ride to Washington, heard Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. It was a life-changing occasion for the author as it launched him on a career to become one of the most important chroniclers of the civil rights era. Two decades later, as a distinguished professor of African American History at Stanford University, Mrs. King picked Dr. Carson to edit her late husband’s papers. Taking the reader on a journey of rediscovery of the King legend, he draws on new archives as well as unpublished letters. Dr. Carson examines his decades long quest to understand Martin Luther King, Jr. the man, delve into the construction of his legacy, and to understand how King’s "dream" has evolved.
About the Author
Clayborne Carson is professor of History at Stanford University and director of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute, and also helped to design the King National Memorial. Selected in 1985 by the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King to edit and publish Dr. King's papers, Carson has devoted most of his professional life to the study of MLK. He has spoken about Dr. King and his legacy throughout the world, and has appeared on many national radio and television shows, including Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, The NewsHour, Fresh Air, Morning Edition, Tavis Smiley, Charlie Rose, Democracy Now, and Marketplace. Carson has also served as a historical advisory for numerous documentaries, including “Freedom on My Mind,” which was nominated for an Oscar in 1995.