5-Stars Editorial Review. Many are remembered and revered for their contribution to the civil rights movement–some are more easily named than others. Clyde Kennard is one man among the countless individuals whose quiet contributions are often overlooked in history books, lectures, and museum descriptions of the most famous civil rights events of the 1950s. Clyde Kennard, a man with a right to an education in the United States, found himself in the throes of a battle to gain a college education in Mississippi while at the same time battling the oppressiveness of segregation, racism, and the fears of rural white America. The Life and Times of Clyde Kennard, by Derek R. King, is the moving account of Clyde Kennard’s life and significant but virtually silent contribution to desegregate the South. King invites readers to absorb the details of Kennard’s life from his early days through his years serving in the United States Army. By establishing Kennard’s willingness to defend his country, King makes it clear to readers that Kennard is a man we should not slight in discussions of desegregation. I am sure I am not the only reader surprised to hear of the part Kennard played in desegregating a southern college. King explains, in no uncertain terms, the exceptional number of obstacles placed in Clyde Kennard’s path as he attempted to apply and enroll in Mississippi Southern College near his own home in Mississippi. Authors like King are almost single handedly responsible for providing readers with otherwise hidden facts about heroes like Clyde Kennard and those who championed his cause. In addition to telling Clyde Kennard’s own personal story of struggle, King includes details about the deaths of Reverend George Lee, Lamar Smith, and Emmett Till. While Emmett Till’s tragic story is one I had heard, I was completely unaware of the viciousness of his death and had no idea that his killers were so brazen as to later proudly admit their actions. These are the stories we all need to be told so history does not repeat itself. I, for one, am grateful to authors like King who continue to tell these stories. Clyde Kennard was harassed and underwent one accusation after another as he fought to further his own education. I am horrified at the level of leading questions Clyde Kennard was asked by prosecutors when he was accused of robbery. Nowhere during his proceedings was he treated fairly. King has included the testimony within his story which makes the truth of Kennard’s battle that much more gripping. It is and will forever be through books like Derek R. King’s that citizens of the United States see and feel the truth of where our country has been and the place we should all fear returning. Clyde Kennard’s story is one that should be told far and wide and given its rightful place alongside all other well-renowned heroes of the civil rights movement. Derek R. King has made a significant contribution to literature indeed. Literary Titan

5.0 out of 5 stars A Forgotten Hero of the American Civil Rights Movement (1950s-60s) Ten years in the making, author Derek R. King has given us an American history masterwork on the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s-60s. Although King paints with a broad brush and illuminates the social and political environment of that period, his deep focus is on someone you probably never heard of. He was Clyde Kennard, a native of Mississippi, a decorated Korean War veteran and a Black man who lived in a time and place where equal rights for his race were nonexistent. Kennard was both a warrior and victim of the civil rights struggle. According to sources cited in the book, Kennard was a mild-mannered, courteous, and respectful young man. A reluctant and non-violent warrior, he ran into brick-hard resistance and grave personal consequences when he attempted to enroll in the University of Southern Mississippi, then a segregated institution. He was not out to break the color barrier or prove a point; he simply wished to finish his college degree close to home so he could support his widowed mother. The extraordinary machinations, time, and money spent by the university administration, state and local politicians, and law enforcement to keep Kennard out and then punish him for repeatedly applying beggars belief. Author King does a brilliant, cohesive job laying out these heart-rending events. I kept thinking: “You can’t make this stuff up.” “The Life and Times of Clyde Kennard” is an in-depth expose of an ugly period in American history that gives the reader an understanding of how far we’ve come as a country and society, and hints at how much further we may need to go. The book is founded on meticulous, well-documented research and written by a talented Scottish author who poured his heart and soul into this project. I highly recommend this book to those interested in American history, the Civil Rights Movements and many of the people, including Clyde Kennard, who played a significant part in advancing equality and justice for Blacks in this country. - Claudia Oltean

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful read - should be required reading for all US citizens This impeccably researched and well written book really brings to life a volatile period of US history, the Civil Rights movement. Sadly, I had not heard of Clyde Kennard before reading this book. The book begins by setting the stage for US race relations with a brief, but information packed, overview of the US Civil War and how the outcome and mentality of that impacted the history of both the Northern and Southern states. I found the insights and perspective of the author to be fascinating, educated, and credible. I will admit, the book is difficult to read. Not by any defect on the part of the author, but because the subject matter is raw, frustrating, and downright shameful. The hardships faced by Clyde Kennard, simply because he wanted to pursue higher education at a white college in Mississippi, are unconscionable. The horrible things he endured, with patience, are a true testament to the resilience of the human spirit. There were many times when I had to put the book down because it was so frustrating or angering. The fact that it's a true story made it all the more gripping and heartbreaking. This book is an informative look at history but told with heart. Clyde will become a living, breathing, human being to you as you read his story. You'll learn the facts, dates, and historical context of his life, but you'll also get a feel for him as a regular person, like you and I. Unfortunately, racial tension in the US is still a very real thing. As alarming and painful news stories continue to show up, this book remains a very relevant reminder of how far we've come, but how much further we've yet to go. I could easily see, and recommend, this text as being required reading in high school US History classes and also on college campuses. It offers the perfect segue into opening honest dialog about race relations and civil rights. Clyde Kennard is a name that should be known in the greater consciousness of the American people and I admire the author, Derek R. King, for endeavoring to bring Kennard out of the shadows, where he's dwelt for far too long, and into the light he so richly deserves. I feel like I've learned more about Civil Rights through reading this book than I ever did throughout my years of high school and university education. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. - PJGirl09