A Fire You Can't Put Out: The Civil Rights Life of Birmingham's Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth (Religion & American Culture)

In "A Fire You Can't Put Out: The Civil Rights Life of Birmingham's Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth," author Andrew Manis chronicles the audacious life of a pivotal yet often overlooked civil rights leader. Winner of the 2000 Lillian Smith Award and the 2001 James F. Sulzby Jr. Award, this biography captures the essence of Shuttlesworth as both a preacher and a tenacious activist. The narrative vividly recounts the 1956 bombing of Shuttlesworth's home, an event that catalyzed his lifelong crusade against Jim Crow laws in Birmingham. With divine conviction, he challenged segregationist policies, clashed with notorious figures like Bull Connor, and collaborated with icons like Martin Luther King Jr., influencing pivotal moments in the civil rights movement. Ideal for college students studying religious freedom and racial justice, this book not only explores Shuttlesworth's relentless fight for equality but also delves into his profound understanding of the Christian pastoral role as a vehicle for social change. Through this compelling account, readers are invited to reflect on the intersection of faith and activism in the ongoing struggle for justice.