Clarence B. Jones

Clarence Benjamin Jones (born January 8, 1931) is an American lawyer. He is the former personal counsel, advisor, draft speech writer and close friend of Martin Luther King Jr. He is a scholar at Stanford University. He is the author of What Would Martin Say? and Behind the Dream: The Making of the Speech that Transformed a Nation.[1] He helped King Jr. write the first part of the 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech at Jones' house in The Bronx.[2]

Clarence Benjamin Jones
Clarence B. Jones at the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech (cropped).jpg
Jones in Geneva in 2013
Born (1931-01-08) January 8, 1931 (age 93)
EducationPalmyra High School
Alma mater
OccupationLawyer, speechwriter, newspaper editor
Known forWork and friendship with Martin Luther King Jr.
MovementCivil Rights Movement
RelativesRichard Schiff (stepson)

Clarence B. Jones Media

References

  1. "Behind the Dream". Archived from the original on 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
  2. "On Martin Luther King Day, remembering the first draft of 'I Have a Dream'". The Washington Post. 2011-01-16. Retrieved 2011-02-28.