Ed Clayton was a well-known editor, author, and reporter. He worked on special assignments for Life magazine and contributed articles to the Associated Press, United Press International, and the Associated Negro Press. He also served as an editor with Jet, Ebony, and the Negro Digest. Until his death in 1966, Ed Clayton was an associate of Dr. King at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Xernona Clayton, the author's widow, is a leading civil rights activist who was an associate of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. She is also the founder, president, and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc., which highlights accomplishments and contributions that enhance quality of life for all.

Donald Bermudez is a multifaceted artist who has worked directly with Coretta Scott King and continues to work with public figures such as Congressman John Lewis, Ms. Xernona Clayton, and Reverend C. T. Vivian. In 2008, Congressman Lewis selected him to design the annual White House Christmas Ornaments for Georgia's 5th Congressional District. In 2016, his "I Have a Dream" poster of Martin Luther King Jr. received an award of merit in the HOW International Design Awards competition. He lives in the Atlanta area.