Pursuit of Truth: From Kansas City's Libraries, Alvin Sykes Plotted and Unlikely Course to Civil Rights History

Dodd, Monroe
Kemper, R. Crosby, III
Sykes, Alvin
Kansas City Public Library

Booklet published by the Kansas City Public Library summarizing the community, civil rights, and legal activism of Alvin Sykes. The text covers Sykes' early life and passion for self-education through public libraries. His involvement in the 1980 murder case of jazz musician Steve Harvey at the Liberty Memorial is highlighted. Sykes' pursuit of a federal civil rights violation case against Harvey's accused killer, Raymond Bledsoe, after he was declared not guilty by an all white jury in Jackson County court is covered. Sykes' civil rights and legal activism following Bledsoe's conviction in 1983, including his involvement with the reexamination of the 1955 murder of Emmett Till, is also covered. The booklet contains an introduction by former Kansas City Public Library executive director R. Crosby Kemper III and concludes with a note from Sykes discussing his life's work.

2014

Public libraries
Civil rights
Trials, litigation, etc.
Homicides
Jazz musicians
Criminal investigations

Sykes, Alvin
Harvey, Steve
Bledsoe, Raymond
Kansas City Public Library
Steve Harvey Justice Campaign
Justice Campaign of America
Till, Emmett
Emmett Till Justice Campaign

Book

Ramos Collection

RAMOS PF 323.11 D63P

RAMOSPF323.11D63P-2014

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