Amajorautobiographyofaremarkablelifethatbrokedownracialbarriers,transformedinstitutions,andenergizedthestruggleforjustice,bytheformerpresidentoftheFordFoundation“Frankhasthatqualityofhonestyandauthenticityandpeopletrustedhim...andbecauseverydisparatepeopletrustedhim,hecouldbringthemtogetheracrosstheirdifferences.“--GloriaSteinemFranklinThomaswasoneofthemostinfluentialpeopleofourtime.AsformerpresidentoftheFordFoundation(thefirstAfricanAmericantoholdthisposition),formerpresidentoftheBedfordStuyvesantRestorationCorporation(thefirstcommunitydevelopmentorganizationofitskind),memberofcountlesscorporateboards,andakeyplayerinfacilitatingtheendoftheapartheiderainSouthAfrica,Thomasshapedpublicpolicy,philanthropy,andthemovementforhumanrightsforoverhalfacentury.AnUnplannedLifeoffersaninsider’saccountofsomeofthemostcrucialtransformationsofthecontemporaryera:effortstorebuildAmerica’scities,strugglestoreformphilanthropy,andthequesttoestablishaglobalorderbasedonhumanrightsandracialequity.Asastoryoffirsts,Franklin’smemoiralsochroniclesaformativeera,whenagenerationofAfricanAmericansfirstbrokethroughintothehallsofpower,navigatingcomplicatedandsometimestreacherousculturalandpoliticalcurrents.MuchofFranklinThomas’slifewasmarkedbyhisdesiretostayoutofthespotlight,andtolethisaccomplishmentsspeakforthemselves.Now,inAnUnplannedLife,wehaveThomas’sfullstory,inallofitsnuance,drama,andrichlynarrateddetail.
