 | LawyerBuzz.com Navigation | |
|
|
| |
| The Day Freedom Died: The Colfax Massacre, the Supreme Court, and the Betrayal of Reconstruction | 
 enlarge | Author: Charles Lane
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Category: Book
List Price: $27.00
Buy New: $13.48
You Save: $13.52 (50%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $13.48
Avg. Customer Rating:  (11 reviews)
Sales Rank: 267952
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3
ISBN: 0805083421
Dewey Decimal Number: 976.367
EAN: 9780805083422
ASIN: 0805083421
Publication Date: March 4, 2008
Release Date: March 4, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The untold story of the slaying of a Southern town?s ex-slaves and a white lawyer?s historic battle to bring the perpretators to justiceFollowing the Civil War, Colfax, Louisiana, was a town, like many, whereAfrican Americansand whites mingled uneasily. But on April 13, 1873, a small army of white ex?Confederate soldiers, enraged after attempts by freedmen to assert their new rights, killed more than sixty African Americans who had occupied a courthouse. With skill and tenacity, The Washington Post?s Charles Lane transforms this nearly forgotten incident into a riveting historical saga.
Seeking justice for the slain, one brave U.S. attorney, James Beckwith, risked his life and career to investigate and punish the perpetrators?but they all went free. What followed was a series of courtroom dramas that culminated at the Supreme Court, where the justices? verdict compromised the victories of the Civil War and left Southern blacks at the mercy of violent whites for generations. The Day Freedom Died is an electrifying piece of historical detective work that captures a gallery of characters from presidents to townspeople, and re-creates the bloody days of Reconstruction, when the often brutal struggle for equality moved from the battlefield into communities across the nation.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 The politics of this incident just won't go away . . . December 14, 2008
The "Colfax Massacre," not much known outside Louisiana, took place in Grant Parish on Easter Sunday, 1873, and even today, interpretation of the bloody events of that day -- which were either vigilantism or self-defense, depending on who you believe -- depends largely on the narrator's personal politics. The ingredients of the violence included a growing community of ex-slaves, a handful of white supremacists, and an abundance of corrupt politicians (some of them Northern carpetbaggers, some of them homegrown). The result was three dead white men and at least sixty dead black men. And that was followed by a series of show trials in New Orleans, in which the white defendants, though prosecuted strenuously by U.S Attorney James Beckwith, nevertheless managed to "influence" the witnesses' recollection of events in Colfax. The case finally ended up before the U.S. Supreme Court, which handed down a decision that effectively took the federal government out of civil rights enforcement for several generations, weakened the 14th Amendment, and left race relations up to the states. Which, of course, helped end Reconstruction and ushered in the era of Jim Crow. The effects of Colfax stretched more than a century into the future. Lane, an extremely well-experienced political journalist with considerable knowledge of Supreme Court history, has constructed a deft and gripping narrative based on exhaustingly researched historical evidence and considerable insight. This is the best sort of "popular" history. There's also a lengthy bibliography if you want to pursue the subject further.
A good look at a dark chapter in American history November 20, 2008
Charles Lane's book is a fascinating look into the dark politics of race in the Reconstructionist South. It creates a riveting account of escalating tension in a small Louisianna Parish (ironically, named "Grant") between well-meaning White Republicans, former slaves and White Supremacists tied in with the democratic party. It provides a riveting account of the Colfax massacre, the repurcussions of the violence, and the lingering legacy of the racial violence and the abandonment of African-Americans by the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal government in Washington.
Generally well written, the book begins as a page turner. Unfortunately, when the chronicle turns to an explanation of the legal aspects of the court cases arising out of the incident, the writing becomes abtuse and confusing. Some greater clarity would make this book a classic and the failure to clearly explain the legal concepts holds this book back (and I am a lawyer to boot).
Still, a good read and an interesting look into a dark period and the prejudices that still haunt us today.
Disturbing September 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a monograph about an incident in Reconstruction Louisiana that eventually made it to the Supreme Court and had a major impact on bringing Reconstruction to a close. Never heard of it? That's not surprising. There's a ton of hidden history from this period - and from American race relations in general.
A little about the incident ... An upstate parish has two governments, one Black and Republican and one White and Democrat. The first group occupies the courthouse and is then besieged by the second. The Whites set fire to the courthouse then massacre the Blacks as they flee. A courageous DA tries to prosecute the Whites, taking the case all the way to the Supreme Court, but ultimately fails.
What I particularly liked about the book was the way certain parts were written. Quite honestly, they are page-turners. It was almost like reading a thriller - plus it's all true.
It also does a particularly good job at highlighting the heinous behavior of the White mob. I have read of very few instances of behavior that were so cowardly and depraved as this. Combined with what happened outside the actual massacre (random killings, witness intimidation, voter fraud), events in Iraq - or even Nazi Germany - have nothing on this.
The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was some very slow and convoluted passages where the author tries to shed light on the politics and law involved. There also seemed to be too many characters. This wouldn't have been a big deal, but the author felt he had to flesh out each one with little biographies, even down to each juror on each case.
All in all, a very well done book. Here's some other stuff of a similar bent:
The Bloody Shirt: Terror After Appomattox
Buried in the Bitter Waters: The Hidden History of Racial Cleansing in America
Rosewood
At the Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America (Modern Library Paperbacks)
The Burning: Massacre, Destruction, and the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921
 Should be required reading August 23, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I read "The Day Freedom Died" during a family "Backroads" vacation in Wyoming visiting our national parks. Members of our group would often have to arouse me from my deep inhalation of Lane's words to see sights along the way, "Yeah, nice," I'd mutter, as The Grand Tetons, Yellowstone Lake, and Old Faithful passed in the distance.I can't recall my ever reading a book so quickly or intensely.
Mr. Lane has brought to life a very important piece of US history that has, for reasons unbeknownst to me, been obviated from common knowledge. This unpunished massacre of 60+ former slaves in "Reconstruction" period Louisiana, and the subsequent inaction by our courts, laid the groundwork for the savagery and mistreatment of African-Americans for the next 100 years. E.g, if one looks up Joseph Bradley in Wikipedia, Colfax isn't mentioned while his ruling in the Hayes electoral college decision is highlighted. I'm shocked and saddened that the Colfax massacre has been barely taught to schoolchildren throughout the past 100+ years. Thankfully, because of Lane and maybe others, this seems to be changing. I read that an interracial ceremony this year marked the 135th anniversary of the event.
However, it is pitiful that Louisiana, Supreme Court justices,
journalists, and academics have not forcefully condemned this horrific
blemish in our history nor tried to remedy much of the historical
misinterpretation. That the sign outside Colfax courthouse still
describes the event as marking "the end of carpetbag misrule" is a shame. That Supreme Court justice Bradley and his fellow justices are not viewed with disdain for laying the foundation for another the subsequent persecution of African-Americans is a shame too. That white supremacist CC Nash and his band of hoodlums have been lauded as heroes and not demons is sick. Hopefully, Judge Beckwith, the one lone voice of judicial reason, will one day accurately be positioned in history as a man of superior ethics and courage. I couldn't help wondering "what if" many times throughout the book.
Charles Lane has composed a brilliantly researched, analyzed, and written work, one that should be required reading for high school history classes. I'd love to see this as a movie.
Good book, tragic story August 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Charles Lane did a very good job on a disturbing part of our history. The Colfax Massacre was one of the worst in a long line of race-related murders in the post-Civil War South. "Betrayal of Reconstruction" is an appropriate part of this title.
The Colfax Massacre was a despicable event in 1873. At least 60 black men were killed while they defended the Grant Parish court house with minimal weaponry. Many were slaughtered after surrendering. It was brutal murder, yet when it was all said and done, the killers -- every single one to survive the battle -- were free.
There are many things to like about this book. Lane did a solid job of providing the necessary background on all the key participants, as well as what caused the racial climate in that part of Louisiana. The narrative was pretty smooth and easy to read. He brought these little-known characters to life.
Lane's research was also outstanding, and his knowledge of the law and the Supreme Court is undeniable. One problem I had with the book was that I had some difficulty understanding some of the legal issues and specifics. But the main point of the story was clear -- vicious murderers were not punished because of a combination of technicalities and questionable interpretation of the law. In other words, it's hard to convict racists when judges and jurors are also racist.
This book is a quick read and great for any history buff.
|
|
|
The Lawsuit and Self Help Legal Law Book Store From LawyerBuzz.comInternational Orders & Shipping
We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.
Shipping Restrictions
Warranty issues and manufacturer restrictions prevent us from shipping certain products to all geographical locations. You'll be notified while placing your order if we're unable to ship specific items to the address you've selected.
International Addresses
The following items can be shipped to destinations outside the U.S.:
* books*
* DVDs
* music
* VHS videos
Additionally, some software, tools, and kitchen items can be shipped to the following countries:
* Australia
* Austria
* Denmark
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Japan
* Ireland
* Italy
* Netherlands
* New Zealand
* Sweden
* United Kingdom
These items can be shipped only via Priority International Shipping and are subject to an import fees deposit.
*Note: Books that require special handling because they are extremely heavy (for example, multi-volume sets) cannot be shipped outside the U.S. If this is the case, it will be noted on the product detail page.
When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Shipping date estimates will appear in the order form. After placing your order, you will see both shipping and delivery date estimates in the order confirmation e-mail and in the order summary in Your Account.
Calculating Cost
Shipping costs depend upon the method and option you choose.
If you choose to group items into as few shipments as possible, you'll be charged for one regular per-shipment fee, as well as a per-item fee for each item in that shipment.
If you choose to ship items as soon as they become available, we'll charge you full per-shipment fees for each shipment as well as a per-item fee for each item.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound. |
|
|
| | |