Black Power and the American Myth
Encyclopedia
Black Power and the American Myth is a 1970 book by Reverend C. T. Vivian
that analyzes the Civil Rights movement
. Before writing Black Power and the American Myth, Vivian had been an activist, a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
, and a member of the Executive Staff of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Vivian was the first member of King's staff to write a book about the Civil Rights movement, and his access gave readers a first-hand account of the thoughts and motivations of the movement's leaders.
Vivian credits King with successfully shifting white American
s' perceptions of the need for equal rights for African-Americans:
Vivian also describes the process through which the movement's leaders identified important goals and strategies:
After its 1970 publication, Black Power and the American Myth became an Ebony Book Club
selection and a bestseller
.
C. T. Vivian
Cordy Tindell Vivian is a minister, author, and was a close friend and lieutenant of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. during the American Civil Rights Movement. Vivian continues to reside in Atlanta, Georgia and most recently founded the C. T. Vivian Leadership Institute, Inc. Rev...
that analyzes the Civil Rights movement
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
. Before writing Black Power and the American Myth, Vivian had been an activist, a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is an African-American civil rights organization. SCLC was closely associated with its first president, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...
, and a member of the Executive Staff of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
Vivian was the first member of King's staff to write a book about the Civil Rights movement, and his access gave readers a first-hand account of the thoughts and motivations of the movement's leaders.
Vivian credits King with successfully shifting white American
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
s' perceptions of the need for equal rights for African-Americans:
Vivian also describes the process through which the movement's leaders identified important goals and strategies:
After its 1970 publication, Black Power and the American Myth became an Ebony Book Club
Ebony (magazine)
Ebony, a monthly magazine for the African-American market, was founded by John H. Johnson and has published continuously since the autumn of 1945...
selection and a bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
.