The trinity : John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and civil rights in African American memory / Sharron Wilkins Conrad

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wilkins Conrad, Sharron, Author.

Series:

John Hope Franklin series in African American history and culture

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963--Public opinion.

Kennedy, John F.

Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973--Public opinion.

Johnson, Lyndon B.

Civil rights movements--United States--History--20th century.

Civil rights movements.

African Americans--Civil rights--History--20th century.

African Americans.

Collective memory--United States.

Collective memory.

African Americans--Civil rights.

Civil rights movements--History.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xviii, 249 pages ): illustrations

Place of Publication:

Chapel Hill : The University of North Carolina Press, [2026]

Summary:

"A striking triptych once displayed in countless African American households, the Trinity typically features Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King Jr., and John F. Kennedy. More than decoration, these portraits were deliberate acts of memory and quiet resistance, a medium through which African Americans asserted their own narratives of hope, leadership, and the fight for justice. In this provocative history, Sharron Wilkins Conrad traces the Trinity across several decades, showing how African Americans didn't merely remember the civil rights movement; they shaped its meaning. The Trinity reveals why Kennedy's image hung beside King and Christ, while Lyndon B. Johnson, despite signing landmark legislation such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act, remained largely unheralded. Kennedy's charisma, symbolic promise, and perceived martyrdom placed him among sacred icons, while Johnson, seen as transactional and confronted by the era's growing impatience, never secured the same emotional legacy. In a gripping exploration of memory and meaning-making, Wilkins Conrad reveals how communities create historical truths by elevating some leaders, sidelining others, and preserving their own visions in defiance of the official record"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction: Revealing the Hidden Transcript

Wary: Black Voters on Senators Kennedy and Johnson, 1960

From Old to New: The Kennedy Presidency, 1961-1963

"Water in Dry Places": John Kennedy as Civil Rights Martyr

"Worthy... of All Your Hopes": Johnson Takes the Reins, 1963-1964

"It's Been a Change": Johnson, Vietnam and Civil Rights, 1965-1968

Conclusion: "Incarnations of Justice": The Hidden Transcript and Public History.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Print version record

Other Format:

Print version: Wilkins Conrad, Sharron Trinity

ISBN:

9781469684321

1469684322

9781469694450

146969445X

9781469694474

1469694476

9781469694467

1469694468

OCLC:

1595712069

Publisher Number:

CIPO000367035

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license