First, Best: Lessons in Leadership and Legacy from Today’s Civil Rights Movement
by Steven L. Reed

In First, Best, Steven L. Reed, the first Black mayor of Montgomery, Alabama, shares an inspirational and transformative narrative. Rooted deeply in his own experiences as the son of a civil rights leader, Reed’s memoir serves as an important contribution to the ongoing dialogue about racial justice, identity, and leadership in America.

Reed provides an intimate look at his upbringing, painting vivid scenes of the rich heritage that shaped him. His father, who was a close associate of iconic figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Reverend Ralph Abernathy, imparted to him essential lessons about responsibility, integrity, and the commitment needed to make meaningful change. Reed’s story is one of self-discovery, resilience, and a fervent desire to uphold the values passed down to him.

One of the most compelling aspects of First, Best is its focus on the power of alternative narratives. Reed actively challenges the harmful stereotypes and systemic dehumanization of Black men in American society. By sharing the story of forging his own path, Reed offers an alternative narrative to Black men coming of age, catalyzing their hope and sense of possibility.

The book delves into Reed’s circuitous path to the mayor’s office—a journey that began with his formative years at Morehouse College, led him through periods of entrepreneurship and worldly exploration, and culminated in his role as a probate judge. Each step was influenced by the values he inherited from his father’s generation.

First, Best is not just a memoir about assuming the mantle of manhood or leadership; it’s also about the heavy responsibilities and ethical imperatives that come with it. “My job is to prepare you to be a cross-bearer and not just a crown-wearer. Bigotry has no place in our household. It will only hold you down and make you small,” his father told him in response to a death threat they received. The book is fundamentally about responsibility and preparation, about serving others, and about the willingness to bear the costs of leadership. First, Best serves as an affirmation for the next generation of Black men and women, showing through story and example their potential power in a world that isn’t always designed to uplift them.