Behind the Dream

Clarence B. Jones served as speechwriter and counsel to Martin Luther King, Jr. and is currently a scholar-in-residence and visiting professor at Stanford University's Martin Luther King, Jr. Institute. Selected by Time magazine in 1972as one of"The 100 Future Leaders of America," and twice recognized in Fortune magazine as "A Businessman of the Month," Jones has received numerous state and national awards recognizing his significant contributions to American society. He lives in Palo Alto, California. Stuart Connelly is an author and filmmaker. He is a recent National Educational Press Association Award winner and blogs for The Huffington Post.He divides his time between rural Pennsylvania and New York.

'What elevates this book above most scholarly tomes is its rare and invaluable insider's insight into not only the happenings of the day but also the people involved.' - The Irish Examiner 'Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. changed the course of American history by challenging - and inspiring - the country to confront injustice and live up to our founding ideals. The words he spoke at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 will forever be immortalized for their beauty and power, and they will forever echo in the soul of American life. Jones and Connelly capture the fascinating story behind this historic moment, shedding new light on a speech that ushered in a new dawn for the nation.' - Mayor Michael Bloomberg 'The words of Dr. King live on as a gift to our country. As someone who stood beside him during those years, Clarence B Jones puts them in context and brings the stories around them to life. He and Stuart Connelly take us inside the greatest moments of the American civil rights movement and behind the scenes of a speech that awakened our collective conscience.' - Soledad O'Brien 'America would be a very different place if it weren't for the hard work of men like Clarence Jones. Different - and vastly less just. Behind the Dream takes us behind the scenes of Dr. King's historic 'I Have a Dream' speech, which Jones helped write. It's a story that is as remarkable as it is inspiring.' - Arianna Huffington 'The words 'I Have a Dream' are as applicable today as they were all those years ago. Behind The Dream provides a beautiful glimpse at the origins of an enduring work. Clarence B. Jones illuminates the history in a way no one else could. To learn the story of the speech's creation from the man who was there is to appreciate Martin's genius all the more.' - Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate 'The author provides numerous intriguing insider insights about life on the road with King... Essential reading about a moment of surpassing political and moral importance.' - Kirkus [starred review] Praise for What Would Martin Say?: 'A service to King's legacy, by lifting the layers of oversimplifying myth and legend to reveal a deeper, more complex man.' - Newsweek 'Clarence B. Jones, Dr. Martin Luther King's personal attorney and adviser, provides insight into what the slain civil rights leader would say about the state of today's political affairs. Jones offers provocative views of how King would view racial and religious conflict, illegal immigration, and war.' - Ebony 'Bold...The notion of acting as a medium for the departed King is provocative, but Jones is a smooth manager of feisty prose. What's here is a sort of political parlor game and, like a good parlor game, it will make for lively conversation.' - Publishers Weekly 'Jones seeks to 'translate King for a modern audience.' A gimmick? Absolutely not. The lengthy responses Jones fashions, each one based on his intimate knowledge of King's vision, are well thought out and great material for discussion.' - Booklist

• CONTENTS PROLOGUE: SOULS BEYOND MEASUREXICHAPTER ONE:HISTORY IN THE MAKING 1Randolph's Legacy 3Home Away from Home 9Spin Before There Was Spin 15Divided We Stood 21Plagued be Doubt 27The Celebrity Delegation 32No Turning Back 42CHAPTER TWO TUESDAY 49Early Signs, Early Warnings 51A Group of Lobbyist 54Memory and Metaphor 66"To Counsel with My Lord" 77CHAPTER THREEWENDESDAY 81Dawn Reconnaissance 83So Tired of All the Exploitation 89How Do You Know You're Making History? 92'Buked and Scorned 95Preparation: The Speech, Part One 104The Mechanics of Trust 113Instinct: The Speech,Part Two 115Electricity in the Air 118Saving the Best for Last 125 CHAPTER FOUR A STRIKE OF LIGHTNING, THEN FIFTY YEARS OF ROLLING THUNDER 127Putting a Name to It 129Why Did "I Have a Dream" 134Capture the World? 134Breaking the Records 138Out from the Gloomy Past 144CHAPTER FIVEIN THE PRESENT TENSE 151Welcome to Funtown 153Money Makes the World Go 'Round 159 The Shepherdless Flock 168EPILOGUEDREAM ON, MARCH ON... 181Acknowledgements 189Notes 191Index 199