In 1962; James Meredith became a civil rights hero when he enrolled as the first African American student at the University of Mississippi. Four years later; he would make the news again when he reentered Mississippi; on foot. His plan was to walk from Memphis to Jackson; leading a "March Against Fear" that would promote black voter registration and defy the entrenched racism of the region. But on the march's second day; he was shot by a mysterious gunman; a moment captured in a harrowing and now iconic photograph. What followed was one of the central dramas of the civil rights era. With Meredith in the hospital; the leading figures of the civil rights movement flew to Mississippi to carry on his effort. They quickly found themselves confronting southern law enforcement officials; local activists; and one another. In the span of only three weeks; Martin Luther King; Jr.; narrowly escaped a vicious mob attack; protesters were teargassed by state police; Lyndon Johnson refused to intervene; and the charismatic young activist Stokely Carmichael first led the chant that would define a new kind of civil rights movement: Black Power. Aram Goudsouzian's Down to the Crossroads is the story of the last great march of the King era; and the first great showdown of the turbulent years that followed. Depicting rural demonstrators' courage and the impassioned debates among movement leaders; Goudsouzian reveals the legacy of an event that would both integrate African Americans into the political system and inspire even bolder protests against it. Full of drama and contemporary resonances; this book is civil rights history at its best.
#355047 in Books Farrar; Straus Giroux 1983-09-01Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 12.14 x .75 x 12.06l; #File Name: 0374282471179 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The classic pictures of the soon to be lostBy Terry5555This is the classic book of photos of Jewish lfe and people in Poland and around on the just before WWII. Since the people and theway of life was exterminated; this is one of the few remembrances of how things used to be before. I had given a copy to my motherwhen it was first published 30 years ago.She really appreciated it since she was born in NYC in 1914 as the first generation born inNYC and this was her parents' and ancestors world; now destroyed. Her copy was lost so I bought another one second hand from.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. To fill the voidBy Éva PRÃGAIThe photos have helped me to imagine; what Jewish life was like in Galizia. I have toured the region; but found empty buildings.Ofcourse I knew that ahead of the tour; but the book was helping to see; what it was like. For example; I was in Lublin; but the former Jewish part of the city doesn't exist anymore; as it was torn down in the sixties. In the book I found photos of the former Jewish part of Lublin as well.11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. An amazing recordBy David LightWhat is incredible is how Vishniac captured the variety of Jewish life in late 1930s eastern Europe--from the streets of Warsaw; Cracow; and Lublin; to villages in the Carpathians. His photographs also contrast the extreme poverty many Jews fell into at the time (especially as a result of official boycotts of Jewish establishments) with the richness of intellectual and religious life (the two being inseparable in that time and place).We are shown grandfathers and babies; sages and porters; tzaddiks and merchants; women in the market; boys in cheder; children at play. While strife; anxiety; and resignation are seen on the faces in many of the photographs; there are also many smiling faces--some shy; some beaming at the camera. The most beautiful are those of small children--a girl returning home with a pot of soup and a bottle of milk for the family's dinner; so pleased; a small boy looking off at something his classmates do not see; a boy on a crowded street giving the photographer a friendly wave.Also of great value are Vishniac's captions; printed at the front of the book. One hopes that some publisher will bring this valuable book back into print.
