Into the Bright Sunshine: Young Hubert Humphrey and the Fight for Civil Rights

The author, a professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, takes a deep dive into the life and labors of Hubert Humphrey. In this detailed work, the author relates Humphrey's early life of poverty during the dust bowl of South Dakota. After seeking a graduate degree at the University of Minnesota, Humphrey settled in the State and held office as mayor of Minneapolis. He enacted laws to stem the pervasive racist and antisemitic sentiments throughout the city. He built strong ties with members of both the Black and Jewish communities. Humphrey was the first Democrat elected to the US Senate from Minnesota. He was instrumental in getting Truman re-elected President and insisted that the Democrats included Civil Rights in their 1948 Democrat Convention Platform despite the objections of the Southern Dixiecrats. He continued his fight for Civil Rights as both a senator and Vice President of Lyndon Johnson, whom Humphrey got to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Though currently there may be some erosion of the inroads to Civil Rights for all minorities, this book details Humphrey's efforts to lay the essential groundwork.

Not just a bio of Hubert Humphrey, but included the events in his whole life and the circumstances that led up to his never changing views on Voting Rights and all rights for the Black citizens...........

This is really a great book. No one remembers Hubert Humphrey who was a HUGE leader when it counted for the rights of not just Blacks but Jewish people too.AND it is suburb when it focuses on that.Unfortunately, the author can't help himself and has to treat us - especially in the epilogue - to his tiresome far left woke ideology and views. It's like going to a great concert and then the encore is the Singer coming out and lecturing you about politics for 15 minutes. As deflating, disappointing and deadening as it gets.It's a shame too because the story telling about Humphrey is generally outstanding. But, really, enough with the needless irrelevant asides about Politics 2023 PLEASE. We get it; you're a Progressive Lefty. Thanks for the Update. We'll let the AP know so you get noticed.Stick to the storytelling - that you do well.

HHH was far more influential in the early Civil Rights movement than many people realize. This biography is a must-read for anyone interested in learning the history of the Civil Rights movement.

Humphrey was a cut-above the New Deal liberals taking the lead in the fight for civil rights, human rights, economic justice and battling antisemitism. He conceived many of the programs enacted in the New Frontier and the War on Poverty.

Well written, with a lot of new material about this important mid-century mayor, senator, and vice president. As much a history of Minneapolis as a biography of HHH.

Riveting. Sam Freedman has produced a groundbreaking political biography that surpasses every expectation.

This is, without hesitation, the best-written history book I’ve read in the last twenty years. It is so well-written that the fight for the 1948 Democratic convention platform reads with the same anticipation as an action hero meeting the Foe in the climax and denouement. In this case, the foe was white ambivalence and the specter of Dixiecrats dividing the nation. Again.This book not about HH as a white savior but rather a meticulously researched tale of how the Democrats became the party of Civil Rights, solidifying the switch of platforms begun in 1908 with Teddy Roosevelt. Furthermore, this book reminds us that the Civil Rights Movement began rhetorically and in substantial causation with both Black and Jewish oppression in the North. Without the twin catalysts of the Holocaust and Soviet Union propaganda about illiberal democracy and hypocrisy, it’s unclear whether Truman could have been convinced to follow through on a platform painstakingly constructed by HH and his multicultural allies. HH created the atmosphere in 1948 for the Black vote to choose Democrats and thus unexpectedly put Truman over Dewey in 1948. From the beginning until now, the one issue central to the soul of America is whether Black people are human. Everything else in American history and politics flows from that question that should never had to be asked.I think everyone who is interested in true human equality (and some of that was achieved in law if not spirit in 1964 and 1965) should read this book to see how we got to where we were in the early Civil Rights Movement when multicultural allies produced a multicultural outcome (and the damage and triumph done and achieved since then). I’ve added it to your list Books for Anti-racists. Whoever you are, read it.