Dr. Clarence Jones is a giant of the civil rights movement. As the personal attorney and speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he risked everything to help save the soul of America, including smuggling scraps of papers in and out of Birmingham prison that would become Dr. King's Letter from Birmingham Jail. In fact, Dr. Jones never thought he'd live to see the age of 50.
Today, he's 93 years old, and one of the last living civil rights icons. In this episode, we trace the journey of an American hero — the son of domestic servants who became valedictorian of his high school and studied at Juilliard before becoming a successful entertainment lawyer. That is until Dr. King showed up at his California home asking for legal assistance. After initially turning him away, he went to hear Dr. King preach, and his life — and the direction of our country — changed forever.
We discuss the key moments in his fight for justice, the significance of the black-Jewish alliance, and the legacy of Dr. King, including his thoughts on today's debate over DEI, Critical Race Theory, and colorblindness. He also shares his powerful approach to radical non-violence and his advice for young people today: pursue excellence. Dr. Jones has lived an extraordinary life, and his wisdom on issues of race should be heeded over many of the voices in popular culture today.
SHOW NOTES:
Dr. Jones was recently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor.
Last year, Dr. Jones released his memoir, "Last of the Lions."
Learn more about Dr. Jones' work through his foundation and as Chair of the Spill the Honey Foundation, which continues the legacy of the Black-Jewish Alliance.
Ep 88: A Conversation with MLK's Attorney & Speechwriter: Dr. Clarence Jones