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Lay Bare the Heart: An Autobiography of the Civil Rights Movement
by
James Farmer
,
Don Carleton
Texas native James Farmer is one of the “Big Four” of the turbulent 1960s civil rights movement, along with Martin Luther King Jr., Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young. Farmer might be called the forgotten man of the movement, overshadowed by Martin Luther King Jr., who was deeply influenced by Farmer’s interpretation of Gandhi’s concept of nonviolent protest.
Born in Marshall, ...more
Born in Marshall, ...more
Paperback
,
370 pages
Published
June 1st 1998
by Texas Christian University Press
(first published 1985)
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This book is an essential on the Civil Rights movement. Mr. Farmer was involved in this movement prior to World War II. He was living in Chicago trying to integrate restaurants, skating arcades and the like. It was a constant struggle, it was draining, and it was certainly not lucrative. The people involved in this work for racial equality needed dedication and resilience in abundance.
Mr. Farmer met a wide variety of people from Eleanor Roosevelt, Malcolm X, A.J. Muste, and Presidents – and he p ...more
Mr. Farmer met a wide variety of people from Eleanor Roosevelt, Malcolm X, A.J. Muste, and Presidents – and he p ...more
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I've been attempting to fill in some gaps in my education and understanding in a personal quest to understand and be more compassionate of others. As a family, we were watching the movie "THe Great Debaters", which led me to interest in James Farmer (the young kid on the debate team). Lay Bear the Heart is his autobiography, and with it, the history of the civil rights movement in America. Farmer was a brilliant, highly educated, extraordinarily brave, devout Christian man. This is an important
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Dr. Farmer was one of my favorite professors in college--such an amazing man with the most powerful stories to tell. This book will always have a special place on my shelves.
This is one of the autobiographies that reveals more than the author would like I think, and I didn't especially like James Farmer a great deal. Much as I admire the Congress of Racial Equality and the Freedom Rides and some of the stands Farmer took along with those he worked with. I found it a bit sanctimonious and prudish and self-serving, in addition to the fact that he seemed to really buy into the virulent anti-communism sponsored by HUAC and others. So when he talks about how the movement
...more
One of my professors participated in the freedom rides, listening to him talk made me hunt down this book. A wonderful read, a valuable lesson in humanism and non-violence.
James Farmer was one of the most impressive human beings I have ever had the privilege to know, even a little. This volume presents his vision and his courage, as well as his fears and doubts.
Because when I had class with him, he was blind from years of teargas, to sign my copy, I placed his hand on the book.
Because when I had class with him, he was blind from years of teargas, to sign my copy, I placed his hand on the book.
For all I've read about the Civil Rights Movement, I didn't really know anything about James Farmer or CORE. Not only did this book fill in a lot of gaps for me historically, it's an extremely well written piece of literature.
Interesting, but the guy is just too taken up by himself.
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