A Light Shines in Harlem tells the story of the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem, the first charter school in New York. It is an inspirational tale of how a hero of the civil rights movement, a Wall Street star, educators, activists, parents, and students all joined together to create a groundbreaking school that, in its best years, far outperformed other schools in the neighborhoods in which most of its children lived. This book also discusses the most recent research and issues facing the charter movement and how lessons from them can be applied to other schools.

Mary C. Bounds is an award-winning journalist who has written for the Dallas Morning News, the Houston Chronicle, the New York Times, and other publications. She lives in Chappaqua, New York. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker is a renowned civil rights leader and pastor. He was chief of staff for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Virginia state director of the Congress of Racial Equality, executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and helped organize the 1963 March on Washington. He lives in Chester, Virginia.