On Monday, January 21st, our country celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A pioneer in nonviolent activism against racial discrimination, his work continues to influence our society and inspire those committed to stamping out injustice.
The UTC Library has selected the following ebooks from Duke University Press to showcase the legacy of Dr. King’s work. These books highlight the social, political, and economic challenges faced by African American communities after the Civil Rights era and the people and organizations committed to the creation of a more just and equitable society.
New Day Begun: African American Churches and Civic Culture in Post-Civil Rights America
Written by political scientists, theologians, and ethicists, this collection of essays examines the social and political role of the black church in America since the Civil Rights movement. Informed by a survey of over 2,000 churches across the country, the information in this book demonstrates how black churches shape the economic development and social services within their communities. These essays will interest those inspired by community organizing and the role of the church in society.
Challenging U.S. Apartheid: Atlanta and Black Struggles for Human Rights, 1960–1977
Activism continued after the Civil Rights movement, evident in the black women’s and intellectual groups in Atlanta. In this book, Winston A. Grady-Willis draws on archival materials and interviews with activists to highlight the challenges within black communities and the steps taken to overcome the inequalities still present post-Civil Rights Movement. The agents that Grady-Willis focuses on are the women who organized and initiated change. Those interested in grassroots activism and Women’s studies will find this work informative and insightful.
Race Becomes Tomorrow: North Carolina and the Shadow of Civil Rights
Anthropologist Gerald M. Sider uses his own experiences from his youth and as an activist to examine the way race is understood in post-Civil Rights era America. His work focuses on the political and economic challenges faced by racial minorities and the power structures related to these challenges. Sider’s book will interest those wanting a first-hand account of the realities of racial issues today.