Black Power and the American Myth, 50th Anniversary Edition

by CT Vivian VI

Overview

In 1970, C. T. Vivian, a close colleague of Martin Luther King, Jr. and a member of his executive staff, sat down to take stock of the civil rights movement and the progress it had made. His assessment was that it failed, and that the blame lay in the existence of myths about America.

As prophetic today as it was 50 years ago, Vivian's voice rings out as a critique and a call to action for a society in deep need of justice and peace.

The civil rights struggle that began when Rosa Parks, a seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, decided to sit in the front of a bus has deeply altered American society and the American conscience. Yet from several perspectives, that movement has resulted in failure. The Black struggle for independence is more of an uphill climb than ever. Why?

C. T. Vivian asserts that the civil rights movement failed because it was built on certain myths about America:

- the myth that Americans will do what is right as soon as they know what is right.

- the myth that legislation leads to justice.

- the myth that America is an open society where any minority group can advance.

- the myth that an ethic of love forms the core of the American conscience.

"We had assumed that America held the answers. But more than that, we assumed that America would implement those answers once we presented our case clearly to the nation. And again we were wrong. For we found not only that the answers did not exist, but further, that there was not even any concern about them. No one sought those answers, and no one would put them into effect once they were given." - C. T. Vivian

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506479002
Publisher:	Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
Publication date:	02/02/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	136
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Dr. C.T. Vivian (1924-2020) was born in Missouri, and as a young boy he moved with his mother to Illinois. It was there, in 1947, that he participated in his first efforts for justice: organizing and demonstrating to successfully integrate a cafeteria in Peoria, Illinois.

Vivian is best known for his work with Martin Luther King, Jr. and was the National Director of Affiliates and Strategist for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference organization.

Vivian also developed and launched VISION, an education program that assisted over 700 Alabama students to attend college on scholarship.

In November 2013, President Barack Obama honored Dr. C. T. Vivian for his vision and leadership in the fight for justice by awarding him with the nation's highest civilian honor--The Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In 1970, Vivian authored the first book written by a member of King's staff entitled Black Power and the American Myth. Fortress Press is proud to offer a 50th anniversary reprint of this acclaimed book.