The Movement Made Us

A Father, a Son, and the Legacy of a Freedom Ride

De: David J. Dennis Jr., David J. Dennis Sr.

Narrado por: Cary Hite, Leon Nixon

“The Movement Made Us takes literature to a momentous Southern Black space to which I honestly never thought a book could take us. This is literally the Movement that made us and both Davids love us whole here with a creation that is as ingenious as it is soulfully sincere. Stunning.”—Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy

A dynamic family exchange that pivots between the voices of a father and son, The Movement Made Us is a unique work of oral history and memoir, chronicling the extraordinary story of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and its living legacy embodied in Black Lives Matter. David Dennis Sr, a core architect of the movement, speaks out for the first time, swapping recollections both harrowing and joyful with David Jr, a journalist working on the front lines of change today.

Taken together, their stories paint a critical portrait of America, casting one nation’s image through the lens of two individual Black men and their unique relationship. Playful and searching, anxious and restorative, fearless and driving, this intimate memoir features scenes from across David Sr’s life, as he becomes involved in the movement, tries to move beyond it, and ultimately returns to it to find final solace and new sense of self—revealing a survivor who travels eternally with a cabal of ghosts.

A crucial addition to Civil Rights history, The Movement Made Us is the story of a nation reckoning with change and the hopes, struggles, setbacks, and triumphs of modern Black life. This is it: the extant chronicle of why we live, why we move, and for what we are made.

©2022 David J. Dennis, Jr. and David J. Dennis, Sr. (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿

Felt Everything. At Time I Thought I Was There. The Pain Stays With Me. Peace

Probably the best audio book I've listened to

excellent memoir, well-narrated! The history, well-recounted, was engrossing. I put it down only once or twice to absorb and remember the depth of what happened. Highly recommended!!

Beautifully written

I truly appreciate this book. As a history professor I’ve been exposed to so much, and it is difficult at times to explain to students how activist, and their experiences during different movements, might’ve impacted society and their families. The stories in this book were so well told that it provided a visual, while also sparking a multitude of conversations.

A book filled with compassion, struggle, and truth!

This one by David Dennis Jr. is so intriguing. It will capture your attention and your heart from the beginning. It is written well and reads even better. America do yourself a favor get this joint!

Every person working toward liberation needs to read this

Wow. This book is a feat! The Dennis’s have compiled a volume of immense wealth, power, and history.

We don’t talk much about the inter and intrapersonal costs of being in the movement. We know the stories of an Edgar, Martin, Malcom, Fannie, and so many others, yet haven’t gotten to the what the work cost them. The trauma, the pain, the guilt, the fear - all putting distance between oneself and their most loved people. The PTSD is too often discounted. This book makes clear some of the decision making that had to go into organizing and demonstrating. It also makes clear the emotional tricks one had to play on themselves in order to do the work, stay in the movement.

This book is, just wow. I don’t really have the words. I’ll be thinking about and processing this book for a long time. It’s a book that will stick with me for many for the long haul.

A must read especially if you are doing community healing work.

The connections the Author makes from the movement to his family, to the Black Family and America ring true and profound. This work is gut wrenching, confirming, and enlightening all at the same time.
I cannot begin to imagine how difficult it must have been for the Author and his Father to relive these accounts….and yet I am sincerely grateful for the sharing of their stories.

Powerful

Amazing story about the legacy of the civil rights movement. Beautifully told, loved the point of view.

Grateful 🙏🏽

Grateful for Mr. Dennis for sacrificing paving the way so that we have more opportunities today. Thankful that our school has an opportunity to be a part of the Southern Initiative Algebra Project.

Wow!

Should be required reading (listening). I hope they know how important and necessary this book is.

Insightful

Opened my eyes to the danger of that moment in time. Dave did very serious work for the cause and paid a dear price regarding his son. As a leader, like an officer in war he had to toughen his psyche yet still have compassion for the soldiers sent out to war. His survivor’s guilt was the catalyst for death wish with which he operated. This is a must read for today’s young people to learn about self sacrifice that African Americans still have to live by. Dave was a brave soul and his son experienced many teachable moments as he wrote this book.
Thanks