A new book co-authored by Glendora Mayor Johnny B. Thomas offers a glimpse into his life, struggles and achievements.
“A Stone of Hope: Rising Above Slavery, Jim Crow, and Poverty in Glendora, Mississippi” was published and released in December.
According to a press release, the book is “a fascinating story about the odyssey of a man named Johnny B. Thomas, who rose from the son of sharecroppers to the mayor of Glendora, to lead the movement to help transform his town from a ‘mountain of despair’ into a ‘stone of hope’ through building the Emmett Till Historic Intrepid Museum to promote education, community revitalization and cultural heritage tourism.”
Thomas, a native of Glendora, “has been involved in a lifelong struggle to remove the effects of slavery, Jim Crow and poverty and lead his community out of the darkness of the past into the marvelous light of economic development and prosperity,” the press release noted.
Co-authoring the book with Thomas was Dr. Thomas J. Durant Jr., an author, scholar, entrepreneur, speaker and community volunteer, who is emeritus professor of sociology at Louisi-ana State University and professor of education at Jackson State University. Durant also is the owner and founder of Durant Publishing Co.
The 176-page book is available in both hardback (ISBN 978-1-5434-5706-3) and paperback (ISBN 978-1-5434-5707-0) versions from Xlibris Publishers, 1663 Liberty Dr., Bloomington, IN 47403 (812-671-9754) and Durant Publishing, 7826 Wimbledon Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 50810 (225-572-8324).
Thomas may be contacted at 662-375-4360, or via email to glendora1900@yahoo.com.
Contact Durant at 225-572-8324 or via email to thomas000@bellsouth.net.
IN THE PHOTO: Glendora Mayor Johnny B. Thomas holds a copy of his new book. (Photo special to The Sun-Sentinel)
