About the book
Living the Dream tells the history behind the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the battle over King’s legacy that continued through the decades that followed. Creating the first national holiday to honor an African American was a formidable achievement and an act of resistance against conservative and segregationist opposition.
Congressional efforts to commemorate King began shortly after his assassination. The ensuing political battles slowed the progress of granting him a namesake holiday and crucially defined how his legacy would be received. Though Coretta Scott King’s mission to honor her husband’s commitment to nonviolence was upheld, conservative politicians sought to use the holiday to advance a whitewashed, nationalistic, and even reactionary vision of King’s life and thought. This book reveals the lengths that activists had to go to elevate an African American man to the pantheon of national heroes, how conservatives took advantage of the commemoration to bend the arc of King’s legacy toward something he never would have expected, and how grassroots causes, unions, and antiwar demonstrators continued to try to claim this sanctified day as their own.
Editions of Living the Dream
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469667812
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469684123
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890859266
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469667836
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890859273
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469667829
Read an Excerpt
Living the Dream tells the history behind the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the battle over King’s legacy that continued through the decades that followed. Creating the first national holiday to honor an African American was a formidable achievement and an act of resistance against conservative and segregationist opposition.
Congressional efforts to commemorate King began shortly after his assassination. The ensuing political battles slowed the progress of granting him a namesake holiday and crucially defined how his legacy would be received. Though Coretta Scott King’s mission to honor her husband’s commitment to nonviolence was upheld, conservative politicians sought to use the holiday to advance a whitewashed, nationalistic, and even reactionary vision of King’s life and thought. This book reveals the lengths that activists had to go to elevate an African American man to the pantheon of national heroes, how conservatives took advantage of the commemoration to bend the arc of King’s legacy toward something he never would have expected, and how grassroots causes, unions, and antiwar demonstrators continued to try to claim this sanctified day as their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Living the Dream about?
Living the Dream tells the history behind the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the battle over King’s legacy that continued through the decades that followed. Creating the first national holiday to honor an African American was a formidable achievement and an act of resistance against conservative and segregationist opposition.
Congressional efforts to commemorate King began shortly after his assassination. The ensuing political battles slowed the progress of granting him a namesake holiday and crucially defined how his legacy would be received. Though Coretta Scott King’s mission to honor her husband’s commitment to nonviolence was upheld, conservative politicians sought to use the holiday to advance a whitewashed, nationalistic, and even reactionary vision of King’s life and thought. This book reveals the lengths that activists had to go to elevate an African American man to the pantheon of national heroes, how conservatives took advantage of the commemoration to bend the arc of King’s legacy toward something he never would have expected, and how grassroots causes, unions, and antiwar demonstrators continued to try to claim this sanctified day as their own.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Living the Dream?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Living the Dream?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469667812
How long is Living the Dream and how many pages does it have?
Living the Dream has 336 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Living the Dream?
Daniel T. Fleming
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Living the Dream is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469667812) and paperback(ISBN 9781469684123) and ebook(ISBN 9798890859266) and ebook(ISBN 9781469667836) and ebook(ISBN 9798890859273) and ebook(ISBN 9781469667829)
Where can I buy Living the Dream online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Living the Dream from below
Where can I buy Living the Dream?