This illuminating dialogue between Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda and Vincent Harding, a friend and advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr., recounts the historic events of the American civil rights movement, with an emphasis on the spiritual and philosophical values and ideas that they believe should guide all modern experiments in democracy. It sheds light on the contributions of major leaders such as King, Gandhi, and Obama, while also calling attention to the roles played by women and "ordinary people" in social justice struggles. Divided into 16 conversations, including chapters on character, encouragement, influence, and revolution, it reveals how the movement’s victories expressed a profound vision of freedom and equality through nonviolent social change. Above all, Harding and Ikeda offer a cross-cultural perspective with a core message of hope and human possibility. "I have long known that Vincent Harding is the most profound living interpreter of the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. His extended dialogue with internationally renowned Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda is packed with valuable insights about what Vincent calls the movement to 'expand democracy in America.' . . . As Harding and Ikeda learn from each other, readers of this inspiring book can listen and be enlightened."  —Clayborne Carson, founding director, The King Institute at Stanford University "Vincent Harding is a national treasure, and his wisdom is profoundly nourishing in this national moment. He embodies the evolution of humanity and spirit that is possible in the context of American democracy. This groundbreaking dialogue with Daisaku Ikeda is a gift to all of us who approach American democracy not as something that is irreparably broken but which we have the privilege and pleasure to grow to new maturity."  —Krista Tippett, author, Einstein's God "This book is a true gift . . . It is difficult to imagine two people better suited to engage in and to encourage such a deep, probing dialogue about the work that is required to build a multi-racial, multi-ethnic democracy rooted in a shared awareness of the dignity and humanity of us all."  —Michelle Alexander, author, The New Jim Crow "These conversations are . . . an affirmation of the essential role of everyday people and youth in advancing the possibility of democracy. Yet for me the enduring value . . . is how continuously and beautifully Daisaku Ikeda and Vincent Harding remind us of the power of hope and love . . . The essential guide to and source of renewal for anyone working to create a fair, just, and democratic world."  —Ceasar McDowell, president, Interaction Instititute for Social Change Vincent Harding is a chairperson at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. He is the author of Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement and Martin Luther King: The Inconvenient Hero . He lives in Denver. Daisaku Ikeda is the founder and president of the Soka Gakkai International, a lay Buddhist organization with 12 million members worldwide. He has written and lectured widely on Buddhism, humanism, and ethics, and has published dialogues with global figures such as Arnold Toynbee, Linus Pauling, and Mikhail Gorbachev.