Name this religious pamphlet

December 20, 2023 6:26 PM

Help! An artist friend is working on a mural in Pomona, CA depicting a number of civil rights leaders. He is painting a version of this photo (he has the rights) of Dr. King, John Lewis, and Dr. Jessie Lewis marching at the U of Alabama. He wants to know what is the book (pamphlet) both Mr. Lewis and Dr. Jessie Douglass have under their arms. Any ideas?
posted by pantarei70 to Society & Culture (8 answers total)

Best answer: I don't believe they both have the same pamphlet.

I'm not sure what they're actually carrying, but my first thought was that Dr King famously never traveled anywhere without a copy of Howard Thurman's JESUS AND THE DISINHERITED in his pocket. If I was your friend, I would make it that book in the mural regardless of what it actually was. (I also highly recommend that everyone read it who wants to know more about the roots of King's thought.)
posted by branca at 5:16 AM on December 21, 2023 [2 favorites]

In other photos (for example), John Lewis is wearing a poncho while Jesse Douglas is carrying one. I wonder if what Douglas is carrying in the first photo is the packaged poncho? I don't know if that type of plastic-packaged poncho was being made in 1965, but just a thought.
posted by papayaninja at 6:59 AM on December 21, 2023 [10 favorites]

Best answer: I think John Lewis is totally carrying a poncho. Looking closely you can see the package showing how to use it as a tent or a tarp. Based on the photo papayaninja found I would guess that Dr. Jessie Douglas is carrying one also.
posted by being_quiet at 7:33 AM on December 21, 2023 [6 favorites]

I agree with poncho for both men.
posted by kensington314 at 9:41 AM on December 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

Just for the record, that photo was taken at the voting rights march that went from Selma, Alabama to the state capitol in Montgomery. These events did not take place near the University of Alabama, which is in Tuscaloosa.
posted by Chuck Barris at 10:16 AM on December 21, 2023 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thank you for the notes and additional information. This was kind of rushed question (ceramic mural pieces had get in the kiln!) so I appreciate the clarifying .
posted by pantarei70 at 11:30 AM on December 21, 2023

As a longtime family friend of Steve Schapiro, the photographer (previously), I'm really happy to hear about this mural happening!
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:06 PM on December 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: BlahLaLa -- that's really cool. I think Gary is making something amazing.
posted by pantarei70 at 10:16 AM on December 22, 2023 [1 favorite]