In this sweeping, carefully researched work of historical fiction, two elementary school boys, Black and White, meet in a New York City public school in 1957 and form a lifelong friendship.
A story of two different lives intertwined, The Dream takes the reader through the tumultuous events of the decades that follow—the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, the Space Race, the World's Fair, the murders of Dr. Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy, and culture-changing scientific and technological advancements, including NASA's first lunar landing.
The boys' families would never have met if not for an act of racial violence at the elementary school attended by Nick Greene and Taylor Washington. As Taylor's father tells him, "We don't yet have the America everyone dreams about."
Over the years, the boys are tossed and shaped by history's events. One night, in a dream, Taylor hears the voice of Martin Luther King. At that moment, his life is transformed. He becomes dedicated to racial justice, King's practices, and his own biological heritage, leading him to the field of genetics and genetic evolution.
Meanwhile, Nick learns that he can never walk in a Black man's shoes, but that he can stand beside him with genuine empathy . . . and possibly find answers to human weakness by looking beyond our tiny and self-important Earth. An early interest in rocketry leads him toward engineering, aeronautics, and space exploration.
As young men, they graduate from public school and continue their studies and life lessons at nearby Columbia University. It is the height of the sixties unrest; fellow students are burning draft cards and protesting the war. At the same time, Black student organizations are growing in strength. Taylor and Nick face a complex balancing act, weighing academic responsibilities against political engagement. In a way the protests bring together students of all races. Bullets know no color.
As this epic story winds to a conclusion, the guys continue grad school, pull off a double wedding, become parents, and vacation together with their young families. For twenty-three years and counting, Nick and Taylor's friendship reflects America's evolving social landscape. Supporting, uplifting, and learning from one another, they share The Dream of hope and progress in the world.