Cold War Civil Rights: Race and the Image of American Democracy (Politics and Society in Twentieth-Century America)
One ofChoice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2001"Groundbreaking."--American Lawyer"[An] important book"--H. W. Brands,Reviews in American History"A meticulously researched and eloquently composed study."--Desmond King,Times Higher Education Supplement"In her long-awaited book, Mary Dudziak brilliantly demonstrates the interconnections between race relations and the American response to the early Cold War. . . . Dudziak sets a new standard for literature on race and Cold War foreign policy. . . . Her work deserves a wide audience."--Laura Belmonte,Journal of Cold War Studies"Civil rights activists' efforts were watched carefully by the nation and by the world, and now are described and analyzed for us all with masterful skill by Mary Dudziak inCold War Civil Rights. Although the Cold War is over, race remains a critical feature of global politics. As recent events remind us so well, much appears to be tied loosely with the destiny of democracy in the United States and the way that the country is seen by a diverse and divided world. In understanding this process, the issues at stake, the roles that individuals play, and the implications for human rights,Cold War Civil Rightswill provide enormous assistance."--Paul Gordon Lauren,Human Rights Quarterly"Mary Dudziak's sophisticated account of race, reform, and international relations in post-World War II America is an outstanding work that should help historians rethink the early Cold War era."--David Farber, H-Pol,H-Net Reviews"This nuanced, scholarly appraisal of the relationship between foreign policy and the civil rights story offers a fresh and provocative perspective on twentieth-century American history."--Harvard Law Review"Carefully reasoned, containing vivid accounts, and thoroughly documented with illustrations and 55 pages of explanatory notes, this work helps us rethink the familiar by analyzing the subject matter from a new perspective. It will have broad appeal to historians, other academicians and lay readers interested in American foreign policy and race relations . . ."--Library Journal"Mary L. Dudziak . . . astutely explores the intimate relationship between the policy of communist containment and the civil rights movement. . . . Her book thoughtfully and thoroughly documents how ridiculous and hypocritical we appeared to the post-colonial, newly emerging nations of Africa and Asia by championing the ideals of freedom, democracy and economic equity around the world while at the same time shamelessly denying access to those very same principles to millions of Americans at home."--Edward C. Smith,The Washington Times"Dudziak earns high praise for her superb work."--Choice"Cold War Civil Rightschallenges readers to think globally and locally about the relation between the Cold War and civil rights. It also provides food for thought on the post-Cold War era."--Laurie B. Green,Law and History Review"Dudziak has marshalled an impressive array of primary source material to substantiate her case, but is is never allowed to hinder the unfolding narrative of the civil rights movement in general or her thesis in particular. . . . [An] excellent study."--George Lewis,Ethnic & Racial Studies"An intelligent and informative book that is sure to become a staple of both civil rights and Cold War historiography."--Steven F. Lawson,American Historical Review"Dudziak marvelously frames her discussion of the US civil rights movement in the international and Cold War context in such a way that raises, discusses, and illuminates larger issues that help us to understand how the struggle for human rights proceeds."--Carlo Krieger,Human Rights Quarterly"Dudziak's argument is clearly written, prodigiously researched, and profoundly important. . . .Cold War Civil Rights. . . is the most comprehensively researched study of the connection between foreign and domestic racial politics in the post-World War II era. Dudziak's book will inspire a reconsideration of postwar civil rights history."--Alex Lubin,American Quarterly