New book tells the story of civil rights activist George Crocket Jr.

George Crockett Jr. dedicated his life to advocate for economic and social justice. A new book, co-authored by Peter Hammer and Edward Littlejohn, explores Crockett’s life.

An attorney and Congressman, Crockett grew up in the Jim Crow South and fought particularly hard to protect unarmed African Americans from police brutality. He was also a staunch defender of labor unions.

“A lot of people know what the right thing is, very few people sacrifice for it. And he made tremendous sacrifices for standing up for what he thought was right.” — Peter Hammer, Wayne State University

Listen: How George Crocket Jr. advocated for a more just America.

Guest

Peter Hammer is the director of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State Law. He’s the co-author of the book, “No Equal Justice: The Legacy of Civil Rights Icon George W. Crockett, Jr.”

Hammer says Crockett was willing to give up things in order to push for more justice in a variety of areas.

“A lot of people know what the right thing is,” says Hammer, “very few people sacrifice for it. And he made tremendous sacrifices for standing up for what he thought was right.”