It's in the action : memories of a nonviolent warrior

Select an Action

Title:

It's in the action : memories of a nonviolent warrior

Author:

Vivian, C. T. author.

ISBN:

9781588384416

Physical Description:

xvi, 173 pages, 24 unnumbered pages of plates : photographs ; 24 cm.

Contents:

Prologue. When we came out of slavery -- You can move toward danger -- A matter of faith -- Is segregation Christian? -- And then they jumped on me -- You're never too young to fight -- We're willing to be beaten -- The disease of racism -- Epilogue. Remembrances.

Personal Subject:

Vivian, C. T.

Subject Term:

African American civil rights workers -- Biography.

Civil rights workers -- United States -- Biography.

African American clergy -- Biography.

Civil rights movements -- Southern States -- History -- 20th century.

African Americans -- Civil rights.

Nonviolence -- United States -- History.

Geographic Term:

Southern States -- Race relations.

Genre:

Autobiographies

Added Author:

Fiffer, Steve,

Young, Andrew, 1932-

Summary:

C. T. Vivian's life was never defined by the discrimination and hardship he faced, although there were many instances of both throughout his lifetime. The late civil rights leader instead focused on his faith in God and his steadfast belief in nonviolence, extending these principles nationwide as a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. It's In the Action contains Vivian's recollections, ranging from finding religion at the young age of five to his imprisonment as part of the Freedom Rides. The late civil rights leader's heart wrenching and inspiring stories from a lifetime of nonviolent activism come just in time for a new generation of activists, similarly responding to systems of injustice, violence, and oppression. It's In the Action is a record of a life dedicated to selflessness and morality, qualities achieved by Vivian that we can all aspire to. --

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Oakdale Library	921 VIVIAN	Searching... Unknown
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury)	921 VIVIAN	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

The wisdom acquired during C. T. Vivian's nine decades is generously shared in It's in the Action , the civil rights legend's memoir of his life and times in the movement. Born in Missouri in 1924, Vivian lived twenty-four years in Illinois before moving to Nashville, where he earned a degree in theology and joined John Lewis, Diane Nash, and others to integrate the city in 1960. After being imprisoned and beaten during the Freedom Rides, he joined Dr. King at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta and played leading roles in integration and voting rights campaigns in Birmingham, St. Augustine, and Selma. Over the next half century, he became internationally known for his work for education and civil and human rights and against racism, hatred, and economic inequality. In 2013, Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Vivian passed away peacefully in Atlanta on July 17, 2020.

Vivian was never defined by discrimination and hardship, although he faced many instances of both. The late civil rights leader's heart-wrenching and inspiring stories from a lifetime of nonviolent activism come just in time for a new generation of activists, similarly responding to systems of injustice, violence, and oppression. It's in the Action is a record of a life dedicated to selflessness and morality, qualities achieved by Vivian that we can all aspire to. Bearing a foreword from Andrew Young, the memoir is an important addition to civil rights history and to the understanding of movement principles and strategies.

Author Notes

C. T. Vivian (Author)
C. T. VIVIAN (1924-2020), called "the greatest preacher who ever lived" by Dr. Martin Luther King, was an iconic civil rights leader known for his strong principle of nonviolent action. Born in Missouri in 1924, Vivian briefly lived in Illinois before moving to Nashville, where he attained a degree in theology and joined John Lewis, Diane Nash, and others to integrate the city in 1960. After being imprisoned and beaten during the Freedom Rides, he joined Dr. King at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and played leading roles in integration and voting rights efforts in Birmingham, St. Augustine, and Selma. C. T. Vivian was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 by President Barack Obama.

Steve Fiffer (Author)
STEVE FIFFER most recently collaborated with civil rights icon Dr. C. T. Vivian on his memoir, It's in the Action: Memories of a Nonviolent Warrior. He also collaborated with Southern Poverty Law Center cofounder Morris Dees on two award-winning memoirs. He is the coauthor of Jimmie Lee and James: Two Lives, Two Deaths, and the Movement That Changed America and with his wife, Sharon, wrote 50 Ways to Help Your Community: A Handbook for Change . He currently serves on the advisory board of the Chicago-based Civic Leadership Foundation. He lives in Evanston, Illinois.

Reviews (1)

Kirkus Review

A memoir from a minister, civil rights leader, and close friend of Martin Luther King Jr. In a book written and compiled just prior to his death, Vivian (1924-2020) provides a meaningful contribution to the literature about the civil rights movement, with the advantage of more than 50 years of reflection. Written with Fiffer, the book is a patchwork of Vivian's own account as well as transcripts of interviews from sources such as the PBS documentary Eyes on the Prize. Though the text is sometimes halting, the book is still a valuable addition to the historical record. Vivian begins by recounting his youth in Missouri and Illinois, painting a picture of his struggles with segregation and racism. The author's involvement in the quest for civil rights began in the late 1940s in Peoria, Illinois, and he recounts his efforts to desegregate the restaurants. Vivian went on to pursue studies in divinity, joining the clergy and the broad, interfaith community that was so important to the movement. The author delivers surprisingly self-effacing accounts of such historical watersheds as the demonstrations in Selma and Montgomery and the Freedom Rider campaigns. It is here that prior sources most come into play, adding useful material to Vivian's more recent recollections. The author also discusses his in-depth involvement with the Chicago Freedom Movement, work with MLK, and his leadership roles within such significant organizations as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Upward Bound, and the Ford Foundation Fellowship Program. Throughout, Vivian demonstrates his commitment to nonviolent direct action. "This is the beauty of nonviolence," he writes. "By being your best self you reach others at a deeper level that they thought they could be reached. And so, the truth becomes the predominant force in what you are doing." In 2013, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. An inspiring story of dedication and leadership. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Foreword	p. ix
Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xv
Prologue When We Came Out of Slavery	p. 3
1 You Can Move toward Danger	p. 4
2 A Matter of Faith	p. 17
3 Is Segregation Christian?	p. 26
4 And Then They Jumped on Me	p. 48
5 You're Never Too Young to Fight	p. 62
6 We're Willing to Be Beaten	p. 79
7 The Disease of Racism	p. 95
8 Prophets Never Stop Serving	p. 109
9 What Do You Want to Be?	p. 122
Epilogue The Trail They Blazed	p. 130
Appendix 1 Because He Existed	p. 135
Appendix 2 He Was Unafraid	p. 147
Appendix 3 You Have to Really Love People	p. 151
Sources	p. 163
Index	p. 167
(24 pages of photographs follow page 80)

Available:*

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (1)

Kirkus Review

Table of Contents

Helpful Links

Research Links

Contact

Events and Rooms

Follow Us

Today's Hours