Touched with fire : Morris B. Abram and the battle against racial and religious discrimination

Winner of the National Jewish Book Award for Biography Morris B. Abram (1918–2000) emerged from humble origins in a rural South Georgia town to become one of the leading civil rights lawyers in the United States during the 1950s. While unmasking the Ku Klux Klan and serving as a key intermediary for the release of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. from prison on the eve of the 1960 presidential election, Abram carried out a successful fourteen-year battle to end the discriminatory voting system in his home state, which had entrenched racial segregation. The result was the historic "one man, one vote" ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1963. At the time of his selection—the youngest person ever chosen to head the American Jewish Committee—Abram became a leading international advocate for the Jewish state of Israel. He was also a champion of international human rights, from his leadership in the struggle to liberate Soviet Jewry to his service as permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva. In Touched with Fire David E. Lowe chronicles the professional and personal life of this larger-than-life man. Encompassing many of the contentious issues we still face today—such as legislative apportionment, affirmative action, campus unrest, and the enforcement of international human rights— Abram's varied career sheds light on our own troubled times. Abram was tapped for service by five different U.S. presidents and survived a battle with acute myelocytic leukemia. He never abandoned his belief that the United States might someday become a colorblind society, where people would be judged, as his friend Martin Luther King dreamed, not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. This elegantly written book is the biography Abram has long deserved. Morris B. Abram (1918-2000) Emerged From Humble Origins In A Rural South Georgia Town To Become One Of The Leading Civil Rights Lawyers In The United States During The 1950s. While Unmasking The Ku Klux Klan And Serving As A Key Intermediary For The Release Of The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. From Prison On The Eve Of The 1960 Presidential Election, Abram Carried Out A Successful Fourteen-year Battle To End The Discriminatory Voting System In His Home State, Which Had Entrenched Racial Segregation. The Result Was The Historic One Man, One Vote Ruling Of The U.s. Supreme Court In 1963.
At The Time Of His Selection, The Youngest Person Ever Chosen To Head The American Jewish Committee, Abram Also Became A Leading International Advocate For The Jewish State Of Israel. He Was Also A Champion Of International Human Rights, From His Leadership In The Struggle To Liberate Soviet Jewry To His Service As Permanent Representative To The United Nations In Geneva.
In Touched With Fire David E. Lowe Chronicles The Professional And Personal Life Of This Larger-than-life Man. Encompassing Many Of The Contentious Issues We Still Face Today, Such As Legislative Apportionment, Affirmative Action, Campus Unrest, And The Enforcement Of International Human Rights, Abram's Varied Career Sheds Light On Our Own Troubled Times.
Abram Was Tapped For Service By Five Different U.s. Presidents And Survived A Battle With Acute Myelocytic Leukemia. He Never Abandoned His Belief That The United States Might Someday Become A Colorblind Society, Where People Would Be Judged, As His Friend Martin Luther King Dreamed, Not By The Color Of Their Skin But By The Content Of Their Character. This Elegantly Written Book Is The Biography Abram Has Long Deserved.
-- David E. Lowe Chronicles The Professional And Personal Life Of This Larger-than-life Man Best Known For His Fight In The Civil Rights Movement And His Initiative In Establishing The One Man, One Vote Principle In American Law-- Introduction -- Childhood -- Education -- Atlanta Lawyer -- Victory -- Jewish Imperatives -- Continuing The Struggle -- Brandeis -- Values -- New York Lawyer -- Transition -- Challenging New Definitions Of Civil Rights -- Leadership -- Back To The United Nations -- Legacy. David E. Lowe. Place Of Publication Taken From Publisher's Website. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Morris B. Abram had one hell of a career. Rising from humble origins in the small Georgia town of Fitzgerald, by the end of his life his resume included participation in the prosecution of Nazi war criminals; service as the first General Counsel of the Peace Corps; the presidency of the American Jewish Committee and Brandeis University; and chairmanship of the United Negro College Fund, the Moreland Commission investigation of nursing homes in the state of New York, and the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations-all while gaining prominence as a highly successful trial lawyer. Remembered most for his fight in the civil rights movement and establishing the "one man, one vote" law, Abram's career was not without fault. His reputation took a turn during his presidency at Brandeis University when his frustration with the politicization of the university alienated students, faculty, and trustees, and he eventually became a pariah in the very movement he helped to shape. A major source of contention was over the establishment of a Black Studies Department, which exposed Abram to what he regarded as the ills of racial separatism. When the leadership of what remained of the civil rights movement moved away from opposition to racial discrimination to the promotion of racial preference, Abram warned that what they were advocating was the mirror image of the racism he spent most of his life fighting. In Touched with Fire, David Lowe chronicles the professional and personal life of this larger-than-life man. With a unique personal connection to Abram's presidency at Brandeis, Lowe adds a rare contextual perspective on the events that transpired. Having dealt with many of the contentious issues we still face today, Abram's varied career sheds light on current affairs, such as legislative apportionment, affirmative action, campus unrest, and the enforcement of international human rights