Eyes on the Prize Civil Rights Reader

Clayborne Carson is a Stanford University historian. In 1985 Coretta Scott King entrusted him with editing and publishing the papers of her late husband. Carson is the founding director of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute at Stanford University.David J. Garrow is an American historian and professor. He was the senior adviser for the award-winning TV series Eyes on the Prize. Gill is also the author of Liberty and Sexuality, a history of the legal struggles surrounding reproductive rights in the United States before the Roe v. Wade decision.Gerald Gill was one of the most beloved and highly regarded professors in the history of Tufts University. In addition to his work as an educator and historian, he served as a consultant on the award-winning TV series Eyes on the Prize. He was voted Professor of the Year for Massachusetts twice. Gill passed away in 2007.Vincent Harding was a social activist and historian best known for his work with his personal friend Martin Luther King Jr. He was the co-chairperson of the social unity group Veterans of Hope Project. In the 1960s, he and his wife Rosemarie—both devout Mennonites themselves—cofounded Mennonite House, an interracial voluntary service center in Atlanta. He passed away in 2014.Darlene Clark Hine is the John A. Hannah Professor of American History at Michigan State University and a leading expert on the intersection of race, class, and gender in American society. Co-editor of Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia, she is the author of Hine Sight: Black Women and the Re-Construction of American History, a book of essays. She lives in East Lansing, Michigan.

• PrologueWe the People: The Long Journey Toward a More Perfect Unionby Vincent HardingChapter One:Awakenings (1954-1956)Introduction by Vincent HardingArticles on the Emmett Till Case"Coming of Age in Mississippi," by Anne MoodyA Letter from the Women's Political Council to the Mayor of Montgomery, AlabamaInterview with Rosa Parks"The Movement Gathers Momentum," by Martin Luther King, Jr.Speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., at Holt Street Baptist Church"At Holt Street Baptist Church," by joe AzbellResolution of the Citizens' Mass Meeting, December 5, 1955"Desegregation at Last," by Martin Luther King, Jr.Chapter Two:Fighting Back (1957-1962)Introduction by Darlene Clark HineBrown et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka et al."How Children Learn About Race," by Kenneth B. Clark"The Atlanta Decalration," by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People"Black Monday: Segregation or Amalgamation...America Has Its Choice," by Tom P. BradyBrown v. Board of Education-The Implementation Descision"The Long Shadow of Little Rock," by Daisy BatesA Roundtable DiscussionChapter Three:Ain't Scared of Your Jails (1960-1961)Introduction by Clayborne Carson"Is Violence Necessary in Combat Injustice? For the Positive: Williams Says 'We Must Fight Back,'" by Robert F. Williams"The Social Organization of Non Violence," by Martin Luther King, Jr.Interview with Franklin McCain"An Appeal for Human Rights""Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Statement of Purpose""Bigger than a Hamburger," by Ella J. Baker"A Conference on the Sit-Ins," by Ted Dienstfrey"In Pursuit of Freedom," by William MahoneyInterview with Robert Zellner"Eve of Nonviolent Revolution?," by James M. Lawson, Jr.Chapter Four:No Easy Walk (1961-1963)Introduction by David J. GarrowOrganizing in Albany, Georgia, by Charles SherrodLetter from the Albany Movement to the Albany City Commission, January 23, 1962Interview with Bernice ReagonLetter from Albany Merchant Leonard Gilberg to Albany Police Chief Laurie Prichett, July 23, 1962"Birmingham: People in Motion," by the Alambama Christian Movement for Human RightsWiretap Transcript of Phone Connversation Between Martin Luther King, Jr., and Coretta Scott King, April 15, 1963"Letter from Birmingham City Jail," by Martin Luther King, Jr.The Birmingham Truce Agreement, May 10, 1963President John F. Kennedy's Nationally Televised Speech, June 11, 1963Original Text of Speech to Be Delivered at the Lincoln Memorial, by John LewisChapter Four:Mississippi: Is This America? (1962-1964)Introduction by Clayborne Carson"Mississippi: 1961-1962," by Robert Moses"To Praise our Bridges," by Fannie Lou Hamer"Interim Report of the United States Commision on Civil Rights, April 16, 1963""Freedom Summer," by Sally Belfrage"Mississippi at Atlantic City," by Charles M. SherrodStudent Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Brief Report on Guinea, by James Forman"The Trip," by John Lewis and Donald Harris"To Mississippi Youth," by Malcolm X"From Protest to Politics: The Future of the Civil Rights Movement," by Bayard RustinChapter Six:Bridge to Freedom (1965)Introduction by David J. Garrow"Early Attempts at Betterment," by Amelia Platts Boynton"A Letter from a Selma, Alabama, Jail," by Martin Luther King, Jr."A Midnight Plane to Alabama: Journey of Conscience," by George B. LeonardSNCC-SCLC Relations, by James FormanPersonal Letter from Murial and Art Lewis to Her Mother, Selma, Alabama, March 19, 1965"Our God is Marching On!," by Martin Luther King, Jr.Interlude:We The People: The Struggle Continuesby Vincent HardingChapter Eleven:The Time Has Come (1964-1966)Introduction by Clayborne Carson"Message to the Grass Roots," by Malcolm X"Malcolm," by Sonia Sanchez"Black Belt Election: New Day A'Coming," by Stokely Charmichael and Charles V. HamiltonLowndes County Freedom Organization Pamphlet"How the Black Panther Party Was Organized," by John Hulett"From Black Consciousness to Black Power," by Cleveland Sellers and Robert Terrell"What We Want," by Stokely Charmichael"Black Power: A Voice Within," by Ruth Turner PerotChapter Eight:Two Societies (1965-1968)Introduction by Darlene Clark Hine"A Proposal by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of the Development of a Nonviolent Action Movement for the Greater Chicago Area"Demands Placed on the Door of Chicago City Hall by Martin Luther King, Jr., July 10, 1966"Agreement of the Subcommittee to the Conference on Fair Housing Convened by the Chicago Conference on Religion and Race"Interview with Kinda Bryant Hall"Profiles of Disorder...Detroit""A Man's Life," by Roger WilkinsChapter Nine:Power! (1966-1968)Introduction by Gerald Gill"Taking Over," by Carl B. StokesInterview with Thompson J. "Mike" GainesInterview with Geraldine Williams"The Founding of the Black Panther Party" and "Patrolling," by Huey P. Newton"Seize the Time," by Bobby SealeInterview with Delores Torres"A JHS 271 Teacher Tell It Like He Sees It," by Charles S. IsaacsInterview with Karriema Jordan"Anti-Semitism?-A Statement by the Teachers of Ocean Hill-Brownsville to the People of New York"Chapter Ten:The Promised Land (1967-1968)Introduction by David J. Garrow"A Time to Break Silence," by Martin Luther King, Jr."Conversation with Martin Luther King""I See the Promised Land," by Martin Luther King, Jr."My Last Letter to Martin," by Ralph David Abernathy"On the Case in Resurrection City," by Charlayne A. HunterChapter Eleven:Ain't Gonna Shuffle No More (1964-1972)Introduction by Gerald Gill"...I'm the Greatest,' a poem by Cassius Clay""The Greatest," by Muhammad Ali with Richard Durham"Muhammad Ali-The Measure of a Man," from FreedomwaysInterview with Paula GiddingsAn Open Letter Sent to Howard President James M. NabritInterview with Tony Gittens"The Nature and Needs of the Black University," by Gerald McWorter"It's Nation Time," by Amari Baraka"We Must Pave the Way: An Independent Black Political Thrust," by Richard Hatcher"National Black Political Agenda. The Gary Declaration: Black Politics at the Crossroads"Chapter Twelve:A Nation of Law?Introduction by Gerald Gill"Fred Speaks"Interview with Akua Njere (Deborah Johnson)"Search and Destroy: A Report by the Commission of Inquiry into the Black Panthers and the Police," Roy Wilkins and Ramsey Clark, Chairmen"The FBI's Efforts to Disrupt and Neutralize the Black Panther Party""Angela Davis: An Autobiography"Letter From George JacksonAttica Prisoners' Demands"Negotiations and Failure," by Herman Badillo and Milton Haynes"The Brothers of Attica," by Richard X. ClarkChapter Thirteen:The Keys to the Kingdom (1974-1980)Introduction by Gerald GillStatement to the Boston School Committee, June 11, 1963"Death at an Early Age," by Jonathan KozulTallulah Morgan et al. v. James W. Hennigan et al.Commencement Address as Howard University by Lyndon B. JohnsonInaugural Address by Mayor Maynard Jackson"Can Atlanta Succeed Where America Has Failed? An Exclusive Atlanta Magazine Interview with Mayor Maynard Jackson as He Completes Hits First 500 Days in Office"Amicus Curiae Brief in Regents of University of Californias v. Allan BakkeRegents University of California v. Allan Bakke (The Supreme Court Judgement), June 28, 1978Regents University of California v. Allan Bakke (Justice Marshall's Dissent), June 28, 1978"Whites Say I Must Be on Easy Street," by Nell Irvin PainterChapter Fourteen:Back to the Movement (1979-mid-1980s)Introduction by Vincent Harding"A Historic Look at Our Neighborhoods," by the Black Archives, History and Research Foundation of South Florida"Death Watch," by Marvin Dunn"Confronting racial Isolation in Miami," by the U.S. Commission on Civil RightsInterview with Edward GardnerHarold Washington's Announcement of Candidacy for the Democratic Nomination for Mayor of Chicago"Harold Washington: uniting Chicago for All People"Harold Washington's Inaugural Speech"Of Harold Washington," by Gwendolyn Brooks"Address by the Reverend Jesse Jackson," Democratic National Connvention, San Francisco, July 17, 1984Interview with Unita Blackwell"Platform Presentation by Mayor Henry G. Cisneros," Democratic National Convention, San Francisco, July 17, 1984Address to the National College and University Student Conference, Shen TongAddress by Nelson MandelaAbout the General AuthorsThe Eyes on the Prize Civil Rights Reader Publishing Project StaffEyes on the Prize: The Film and Publishing ProjectNotes on SourcesIndex

“An important volume for students and professionals who wish to grasp the basic nature of the civil rights movement and how it changed America in fundamental ways.” —Aldon Morris, Northwestern University“A remarkable collection . . . Indispensable.” —William H. Harris, Texas Southern University