John Conyers III is honoring his late father, John Conyers Jr., with a new book that provides both a personal reflection and a historical portrait of Michigan’s longest-serving Black Congressman.

“My Father’s House: An Ode to America’s Longest Serving Black Congressman” explores the life, career and legacy of a man who helped shape American politics and civil rights for more than five decades. The book introduces readers to the multifaceted world of Conyers Jr. who was not just a legislator and civil rights champion, but also a mentor and confidant to a generation of political and cultural figures. 

From memories of President Bill Clinton and Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. to Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Gloria Steinem and others, Conyers III delves into his own coming of age in Detroit against the backdrop of a household that doubled as a hub of political influence and civil rights organizing. 

The book also delves into the lessons Conyers III learned from his father, which have helped him navigate his own politics as an emerging voice in national conversations around Black activism.

“American Black Journal” host Stephen Henderson talks with Conyers III about “My Father’s House,” his father’s influence, and the values he’s carrying with him on his leadership journey.