David Lucander, author Winning the War for Democracy: The March on Washington Movement, 1941-1946, was recognized by the African American Historical Society of Rockland County (NY) with this year’s Griot Award.

The award is given “for outstanding contributions in transmitting African American history across generations.”

Winning the War for Democracy details the efforts of grassroots organizers to implement the March on Washington Movement’s (MOWM) program of empowering African Americans via meetings and marches at defense plants and government buildings.

In the book, Lucander looks beyond the man most closely associated with MOWM, charismatic civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph, and places a focus on the organization’s efforts at the local level.

Winning the War for Democracy is also the winner of the 2015 Missouri History Book Award, given by the State Historical Society of Missouri.