About the Author

MARK SPELTZ is an author and historian who writes about civil rights photography, vernacular architecture, and Wisconsin culture and history. He is currently a senior historian at American Girl in Madison, Wisconsin. DEBORAH WILLIS is chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She has been the recipient of Guggenheim, Fletcher, and MacArthur fellowships and was named one of the "100 Most Important People in Photography" by American Photography magazine.

Reviews

"With over one hundred images, many never before published, North of Dixie offers a complex and inclusive view of the civil rights era in America."--African American Intellectual History Society "A hard-hitting photographic look at the fight for civil rights."--On Milwaukee "This compendium demonstrates how many mid-century civil rights struggles were waged far above the Mason-Dixon line. With requisite coverage of famed leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, the survey also reveals hundreds of unknown activists and unsung heroes from myriad walks of life, united in a courageous struggle for social change, dignity, and survival."--American Photo, The Best Photography Books of the Year: 2016 "North of Dixie is a stunning compilation of photos, combining images of strength and reserve evident in activists in Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and Los Angeles with images of the backlash they faced."--Huffington Post "As the overwhelming negative issues of race persist in tearing away at the soul of our nation, America needs to be more enlightened on the history of this subject and how it continues to demand resolve morally and politically. As Dr. King often said, 'If the issue of race is not squarely debated and favorably brought to closure this nation will not survive.' North of Dixie makes this tragic story of our nation worthy of our attention. It helps us understand the ways in which this tragedy can be addressed. This opportunity should not be missed."
--Harry Belafonte, singer, actor, and social activist "Powerful and compelling."--Yahoo "The imagery in [Speltz's] book, North of Dixie: Civil Rights beyond the South (available in November), captures the essence of the violent climate toward grassroots activists and civilians alike who participated in peaceful protests."--Daily Beast "A much-welcome corrective to standard histories, as well as journalistic coverage at the time, which focused on Jim Crow segregation in the South, especially as captured in some historic, disturbing and indelible images of the day."-New York Times