Thousands of black men died violently at the hands of mobs in the post–Civil War South. But in Brazos County; Texas; argues Cynthia Nevels; five such deaths in particular point to an emerging social phenomenon of the time: the desire of newly arrived European immigrants to assert their place in society; and the use of racially motivated violence to achieve that end. Driven by economics and the forces of history; the Italian; Irish; and Czech immigrants to this rich agricultural region were faced with the necessity of figuring out where they fit in a culture that had essentially two categories: white and black. In many ways; the newcomers realized; they belonged in neither position. In the end; they found ways to resolve the ambiguity by taking advantage of and sometimes participating directly in the South’s most brutal form of racial domination. For each of the immigrant groups caught up in the violence; the deaths of black men helped to establish racial identity and to bestow the all-important privileges of whiteness. This compelling and superbly written study will appeal to students and scholars of social and racial history; both regional and national.
#165211 in Books Seven Stories Press 2005-10-04 2005-10-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.00 x .30 x 5.00l; .25 #File Name: 1583226958128 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Davis is a RevelationBy Simeon BunAngela Y. Davis is stunningly clear and straightforward in this set of interviews. The book reads much like a conversation; and Davis has a gift for letting the reader cut through the standard scholarly BS to join her in the struggle for interconnected freedom. Her insights are extraordinary. You wouldn't normally analyze the prison system as an evolved form of slavery and Jim Crow. Davis even goes as far as to find strong connections in the sexualized torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib to similar sexualized lynchings of blacks. This book has opened my eyes to many things; including how sexual abuse is legalized in state penal systems; which then feeds into similar abuse in federal prisons and helps create a reciprocal relationship of the two facilitating each other's inhumane practices. She has a remarkable insight for connecting gender and sexual equality; racial equality; and economic equality together to solidify the fact that change must be unified across all levels. The criminal justice and penal institutions must be removed and replaced with something that is actually effective and moral. "Abolition democracy" is the name of this battle.I enjoy how Davis's insights are reflected in another popular book recently released; "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander. Both books are must-reads; complete eye-openers. My suggestion: study both; and look at the world in new ways.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Angela Davis is brilliant.By HeathaThis book will change the way you see government. Angela Davis is brilliant.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Insightful and wide ranging analysis of racism and what we ...By onlythecrumbsInsightful and wide ranging analysis of racism and what we need to do address the power structures that perpetuate this violence in the world.
