Clarence Taylor Libri

Focusing on the life of Milton A. Galamison, a key yet underrecognized figure in New York's civil rights movement, the narrative explores his efforts to uplift the city's underprivileged children through integration. It delves into the intricate dynamics of urban politics, race relations, and the challenges of school reform, revealing the factors that led to the movement's decline just as change was on the horizon. This comprehensive account sheds light on a pivotal yet overlooked chapter in American history.

The book highlights the significant yet often overlooked role of black religious leaders in the fight for social equality throughout the 20th century. Professor Clarence Taylor explores the contributions of figures like Bishop Smallwood Williams, Reverend Al Sharpton, Milton Arthur Galamison, and Minister Louis Farrakhan, showcasing their diverse religious backgrounds and leadership styles. By examining their influence, the work reveals the rich intellectual and political traditions within the black religious community, emphasizing their impact on the broader struggle for equality from the Jim Crow era to the present.

A story of resistance, power and politics as revealed through New York City’s complex history of police brutality The 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri was the catalyst for a national conversation about race, policing, and injustice. The subsequent killings of other black (often unarmed) citizens led to a surge of media coverage which in turn led to protests and clashes between the police and local residents that were reminiscent of the unrest of the 1960s. Fight the Power examines the explosive history of police brutality in New York City and the black community’s long struggle to resist it. Taylor brings this story to life by exploring the institutions and the people that waged campaigns to end the mistreatment of people of color at the hands of the police, including the black church, the black press, black communists and civil rights activists. Ranging from the 1940s to the mayoralty of Bill de Blasio, Taylor describes the significant strides made in curbing police power in New York City, describing the grassroots street campaigns as well as the accomplishments achieved in the political arena and in the city’s courtrooms. Taylor challenges the belief that police reform is born out of improved relations between communities and the authorities arguing that the only real solution is radically reducing the police domination of New York’s black citizens.