Dreams and Nightmares

"This book is more than a must-read; it is an essential read if one is interested in a multidimensional view of two icons in American History."—Brenda R. Simmons

"Waldschmidt-Nelson has written a myth-shattering account of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X that, without diminishing their differences, illuminates surprising similarities. Teachers will find this book useful in informing students how the struggle against white supremacy powerfully transformed the lives of its participants and the nation."—Steven Lawson

“Both concise and informative . . . . Recommended.”—Choice

“A highly readable account of the lives of two of the most dynamic figures in the civil rights movement.”—The Historian

“A useful primer for anyone interested in reviewing the basic frameworks of the lives of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. . . . A thoughtful, nuanced, well-researched work of great value.”—Journal of American History

“While highlighting their different politico-religious perspectives, social visions, and styles of leadership, Waldschmidt-Nelson reminds us that these leaders learned from and influenced each other and that they can only be understood in relation to one another. . . . The prose is lively and exciting, and the content is clear.”—Journal of Southern History

“A lucid and readable introduction to the role of two key twentieth-century actors in the struggle for Black equality in the USA, seen through their respective biographies, themselves shaped by American social and political conditions.”—Ethnic and Racial Studies

“Well written, concise, smartly organized, and highly readable.”—Journal of African American History