Shared Dreams brings to life the impressive, surprising, and long-neglected history of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s efforts in support of the Jewish community.
At critical moments in the life of the American Jewish community, of Israel and of the plight of Soviet Jews, Martin Luther King, Jr. stepped in as an advocate to speak out for the human and civil rights of Jews. His efforts to support world Jewry-within the constraints of his primary role in the civil rights movement-cannot be forgotten. Indeed, they must be remembered.
Rabbi Marc Schneier presents the full story of Dr. King's involvement with the Jewish community. With the use of previously unpublished material and interviews with those who marched at Dr. King's side, the long-neglected story of mutual support and cooperation between Dr. King and the Jewish community is brought to life.
It is a story that will shed new light on the commitment and the relationship between the Jewish and African American communities as they have struggled together to fight for justice and civil rights for our nation. Even more, it is a story that encourages all of us-people of all faiths, all backgrounds-to continue to fight for justice in our world.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Good examination into an overlooked history:
The release of this book, which is a well-documented look at the interesting relationship between Martin Luther King and American Jews, is quite timely and appropriate. In these early days of the millennium, Black-Jewish relationships seem to currently be on the mend from the low points of the 1990s, and books like this may help in the recovery process. Also quite well written with some little known information and rarely-read speechs by MLK on Black-Jewish realtions.
A timely history:
You mean blacks and Jews did not all walk hand-in-hand during the Fifties and Sixties, even though nearly 70% of white Freedom Riders were Jewish? You mean not everyone prayed with their feet like Rabbi Heschel in Selma? You're telling me that president of the UAHC, leaders in social action, was forced by his members to withdraw an invitation to King to speak at the group's 1959 convention in Miami? Did the Reverend James Bevel, a leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Selma, Ala.,... more info