PARTNERS TO HISTORY

Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, and the Civil Rights Movement

by Donzaleigh Abernathy

Painful and often devastating-but also joyous-
this book records the hard road to incremental gain."
                                             -Publishers Weekly

A rich tapestry of words and images."
-Ebony

Since those days of stunning acts of rage, nothing has really changed except the masks. Violence simply wears other faces. In these times, one has to search for violence behind the smiles, look for hatred behind the laughter. When they pulled James Byrd Jr.s body apart in Texas, I realized that violence is woven into the tapestry of American life. This book is a piercing reminder of H. Rap Browns words that, 'Violence is as American as cherry pie."
                           -Marlon Brando

I have written this book to document in photographs the history of the struggle for civil rights in America. It is said that 'a people who do not know their past are destined to repeat it. Far too many sacrifices were made for our freedom to let history repeat itself, or for people to forget the road that brought us across."

-FROM THE INTRODUCTION

The number of books, films, and other media that recount the Civil Rights Movement uniquely demonstrates Americas insatiable quest for knowledge about this unparalleled moment in our countrys recent past. In PARTNERS TO HISTORY: Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, and the Civil Rights Movement (Crown Publishing Group, October 21, 2003), Donzaleigh Abernathy, the youngest daughter of the late Reverend Ralph David Abernathy, offers a rare look at this troubling and inspiring period.

Sharing private stories along with never-before-seen photographs, PARTNERS TO HISTORY takes readers through the public and private moments of defeat and victory faced by the Movements leaders. People didnt know Daddy and Uncle Martin," Donzaleigh writes. They know the legends. They dont know the fathers, the husbands, the men, the human beings. I feel obliged to tell the beautiful stories of these beautiful men I lived with and loved." She tells their stories while also paying tribute to the thousands of unsung heroes, the other partners to this history who were foot soldiers in the struggle for freedom, justice, and equality. Donzaleigh personalizes her own story as well, showing her metamorphosis from an innocent child who feels alienated and disconnected to these events to an adult who sees the Movement as a critical part of her own lifes journey.

PARTNERS TO HISTORY chronicles the crucial moments of the Civil Rights Movement, beginning with events prior to and following its legacy. From the chapter entitled 1619," which details the slave trade, to Resurrection of the People," which highlights Reverend Abernathys struggle to fight for his cause even after the death of Dr. King, Donzaleigh reveals the remarkable relationship between two great leaders in the midst of a tumultuous and poignant era in American history. Eloquently written and thoroughly researched, PARTNERS TO HISTORY will appeal to all readers looking to further understand the Civil Rights Movement and what it meant for all Americans, then and now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DONZALEIGH ABERNATHY is the youngest daughter of the late Reverend Ralph David Abernathy. Born in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, she learned early on to face the challenges of injustice using the wisdom of nonviolence taught by Martin Luther King Jr. Donzaleigh is also an accomplished actress whose credits include Don King: Only in America, Chicago Hope, Miss Evers Boys, EZ Streets, Murder in Mississippi, and the Lifetime series Any Day Now. She is also a founding member of New Road Schools, which promote cultural, racial, and economic diversity. A native of the South, she now lives in Los Angeles.

PARTNERS TO HISTORY
Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, and the Civil Rights Movement
By Donzaleigh Abernathy
Crown Publishers
ISBN 0-609-60914-9; $29.95 hardcover
Publication date: October 21, 2003