Winner of the 1998 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award Grand Prize"An original; wise and courageous work that moves beyond sterile arguments and lifts the discussion of race and justice to a new and more hopeful level."--Arthur Schlesinger; Jr.In this groundbreaking; powerfully reasoned; lucid work that is certain to provoke controversy; Harvard law professor Randall Kennedy takes on a highly complex issue in a way that no one has before. Kennedy uncovers the long-standing failure of the justice system to protect blacks from criminals; probing allegations that blacks are victimized on a widespread basis by racially discriminatory prosecutions and punishments; but he also engages the debate over the wisdom and legality of using racial criteria in jury selection. He analyzes the responses of the legal system to accusations that appeals to racial prejudice have rendered trials unfair; and examines the idea that; under certain circumstances; members of one race are statistically more likely to be involved in crime than members of another."An admirable; courageous; and meticulously fair and honest book."--New York Times Book Review"This book should be a standard for all law students."--Boston Globe
#82302 in Books Farrar; Straus and Giroux 2013-09-03 2013-09-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 219.96 x 23.75 x 6.04l; .99 #File Name: 0374534020352 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Jefferson Biography w/ Microscopic Analysis of his Views on Slavery and this Changed the US.By E. JankowskiI very much liked this book. Note this review is for the audio version. I was so taken by Wiencek's book; George Washington and his Slaves; that I checked the authors name and found this book on Jefferson. This is very good; but the Washington book is excellent. I learned a GREAT deal listening to this; esp how contradictory Jefferson was in his thinking throughout time. Jefferson was a bit uneasy about the inhumane approach to slavery and yet believed people of color to be inferior; and used them to "breed" more slaves that would be sold and make more money for him than his crops did. He did try to sell families together at times understanding the trauma was harmful emotionally and for productivity; however at times families were separated and he often times wasn't present when that happened. I will listen to this book many more times. My only issue is the narrator/reader of the audiobook. I got used to his voice for the most part; however he sounded like Tom Brokaw but more dry and speaking faster. If you are reading it then I recommend it highly.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A New Old Light on Slavery and JeffersonBy Charles CarlsonThis analysis of Jefferson brings together many aspects of his particular social and psychological with slavery. Slavery; itself; made every aspect of his life possible; and ran in absolute contradiction to everything he espoused. I love it as a snapshot of the birth of America. It's also a moral lesson about living with inherent contradiction; and the role of government in regulating the affairs of people. It's well worth a read.The first 3/4 of the book is a bit choppy; and seemingly lost in repetitious detail. I thought it could have been better organized and edited. Perhaps focusing on Jefferson's public persona and contrasting it with his personal actions more directly.The final 1/4 of the book; however; brings it all together. Jefferson ultimately must be revered as a tragic revolutionary hero; who succumbs to his own greed and vanity at the great expense of hundreds of less unfortunate; helpless individuals.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Jefferson's Image Altered by In-Depth ResearchBy T. BowersThe author has delved widely and deeply into Jefferson's correspondence and meticulous farm records to paint a disturbing view of a slave owner who saw his slaves as capital investments that appreciated in value by 4 percent a year. He did not free his slaves because he could not afford to. His offspring slaves by Sally Hemmings were given advantageous positions in the big house; where at least one son startled visitors because he looked so much like his father. The fact that Jefferson's call for the abolishment of slavery in the Declaration of Independence was deleted by other slaveholders does not alter the fact that this man was disturbingly two-sided when it came to the "peculiar institution." Kudos to Wiencek for his careful research and conclusions.
