Judgment Days
by Nick Kotz
Buy book: $15.59

In the first thorough account of the wary alliance between Lyndon Baines Johnson and Martin Luther King, Jr., the author offers an engrossing investigation of their complex working relationship that was instrumental in producing some of the most substantial civil rights legislation in American history.

 

Think this is a book I Should Read but am just not in the mood for now - will have to put on my "to read later" list - I remember those awful and shameful days of the '50's and 60's - We have come a long long way but will prejudice be ever with us? -

A fascinating and much overdue account of Lyndon Johnson;s contribution to the advancement of civil rights in America. I have been told that Johnson, when queried why a southern Democrat with a lackluster voting record on civil rights had become such an advocate as a President said, "Free at last, Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last." Whether true or apocryphal, it does fit with his efforts on behalf of civil rights in America.

I am interested in this book now and will reserve it at the library. I think prejudice will be with us for a long, long time because it is so ingrained in our culture. We each must learn to recognize our prejudices and then make the choice to not perpetuate them. I don't think of myself as being prejudiced, and yet I know I am. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest so wasn't exposed to the overt behaviors/attitudes of the South. Our prejudices were overt, so harder to own. The book will give me more food for thought.

How wonderful to read the deliberations of someone who has waded through the records of those times, when I remember shame at the body politic's riots and disgust at legalized brutality. It is encouraging that the author is willing to coolly assess both men's roles in their respective milieux.

Fascinating subject. I plan to read the whole thing asap. Having lived through those turbulent times, I am interested to find how it all came about between these two larger than life figures.