The brutal lynching of two young black men in Marion; Indiana; on August 7; 1930; cast a shadow over the town that still lingers. It is only one event in the long and complicated history of race relations in Marion; a history much ignored and considered by many to be best forgotten. But the lynching cannot be forgotten. It is too much a part of the fabric of Marion; too much ingrained even now in the minds of those who live there. In Our Town journalist Cynthia Carr explores the issues of race; loyalty; and memory in America through the lens of a specific hate crime that occurred in Marion but could have happened anywhere.Marion is our town; America’s town; and its legacy is our legacy.Like everyone in Marion; Carr knew the basic details of the lynching even as a child: three black men were arrested for attempted murder and rape; and two of them were hanged in the courthouse square; a fate the third miraculously escaped. Meeting James Cameron–the man who’d survived–led her to examine how the quiet Midwestern town she loved could harbor such dark secrets. Spurred by the realization that; like her; millions of white Americans are intimately connected to this hidden history; Carr began an investigation into the events of that night; racism in Marion; the presence of the Ku Klux Klan–past and present–in Indiana; and her own grandfather’s involvement. She uncovered a pattern of white guilt and indifference; of black anger and fear that are the hallmark of race relations across the country. In a sweeping narrative that takes her from the angry energy of a white supremacist rally to the peaceful fields of Weaver–once an all-black settlement neighboring Marion–in search of the good and the bad in the story of race in America; Carr returns to her roots to seek out the fascinating people and places that have shaped the town. Her intensely compelling account of the Marion lynching and of her own family’s secrets offers a fresh examination of the complex legacy of whiteness in America. Part mystery; part history; part true crime saga; Our Town is a riveting read that lays bare a raw and little-chronicled facet of our national memory and provides a starting point toward reconciliation with the past.On August 7; 1930; three black teenagers were dragged from their jail cells in Marion; Indiana; and beaten before a howling mob. Two of them were hanged; by fate the third escaped. A photo taken that night shows the bodies hanging from the tree but focuses on the faces in the crowd—some enraged; some laughing; and some subdued; perhaps already feeling the first pangs of regret.Sixty-three years later; journalist Cynthia Carr began searching the photo for her grandfather’s face.
#619757 in Books 2012-11-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 14.80 x 2.00 x 9.50l; 5.39 #File Name: 0500516472360 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A Gem. On Tsarskoye Selo- (Pushkin) Suffered severe War Damage.Focus on Decorative Arts Superb Colour PhotosBy DrThis is a very beautiful book that is very well presented with excellent production valuesIt deals with Tsarskoye Selo ( Puskin) aloneThe Editor Emmanuel Ducamp has been associated with some of the very best material related to Romanov Palaces. He is always well worth considering if one is looking for a book on this subject.The focus of the book is on a large number of very high quality photographs with accompanying textIt will more appeal to those with a interest in the decorative arts or to those of a scholarly bent. Personally I think it has much wider appealIt will also appeal to those who linger over objects in museums and who move slowly through country houses.The focus of the book is best seen in listing the table of contents and page numbers. It becomes very apparent that the text focuses on the decorative features of this truly great palace. As the authors are Russian I have not put in there names by their chaptersContentsIntroduction. Pages. 19--38Palaces ; Parks and Pavilions. Pages 39--84Interiors. Pages 85--136Stucco; Scagliola and Painted decoration. Pages 137--162Marble and Coloured Stone. Pages 163--190Textiles and Costumes. Pages 191--220Carved Wood and Marquetry Pages 221--248Decorative Metal. Pages. 249--286Porcelain and Pottery. Pages 287--310Coloured Glass and Crystal. Pages 311--330Amber and Exotic Materials. Pages 331--355Notes; chronological Bibliography and IndexAbout 290 colour illustrations ( 336 in total) the photographs are of excellent qualityEach section is briefly introduced with several pages of text then there are breathtaking photos . These are captioned with informative commentary every few pages. Many of the illustrations are double page spreadsThere are beautiful spreads of rooms; halls; staircases and parks at one end of the scale and a 2 page spread of a close up of some golden object be it inkstand ;clock or guilding on the Julius Caesar ClockThe effect of the book is that of being able to take a very lie surly tour though the palace and it's grounds. The focus is one the interiorExamples of two sectionsIn the Costumes and Textiles section you see there are Portraits showing costumes; Furniture; period photos; beautiful close ups of embroiled Russian Eagles; women's and girls dresses and men's military uniforms along with a selection of epaulettes . The is a beautiful traveling suitcase with cap; sword; white gloves etc. on another page there is a selection of decorative regimental headgear. There are also uniforms of the Imperial ChildrenOne of my strongest early memories of Russian decoration was the beautiful coloured stone especially the rich green malachite and the deep blue lapis lazuliIn the Marble and Coloured Stone section there are portrait busts; beautifully carved fireplaces;pictures made of hard stone and semiprecious stones-- the detail in the picture is amazingThe close up of a gilt greyhound on a malachite base is very impressive (it is a paperweight )One is always wishing that there were even more objects in each section but I think the editor and authors have made excellent choices; one could occasionally have wished for a different object but that probably reflects my own tasteOne could go through other chapters but hopefully this will give some idea of what is contained in the bookSummaryThis book will appeal to those with a reasonable knowledge of art. For those who appreciate the chance to pause;think and look this will really appealFor those looking to educate the eye then there are a vast number of objects of the very highest museum quality to look atIt also gives a much closer look at a great palace than one gets in many other books and in that sense is a great supplement to themFor those luck enough to have been through the palace and grounds it will bring back memories and bring forth new joyFor others who have not seem the Palace it is like having a detailed tour-- although one needs other books to show the many other rooms and parts of the ground not coveredHighly recommended to these readersRisen from the ashes: Petrodvorets; Pushkin; PavlovskThis covers the post WWII restoration of Puskin ( Tsarskoye Selo) and the other palaces mentioned .Has a good selection of colour photographs of both the interior and exterior of the Palaces; there Outhouses ;Gardens and Parks -- well recommended. See my reviewTsarskoe Selo: Watercolours; paintings and engravings from the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries (Imperial Palaces in the Vicinity of St. Petersburg; Volume 4 "Views of the Palaces of Tsarskoe Selo")Mainly a selection of lucid 19th century watercolours that were useful in the restoration of the palaces. See my review1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Beautiful!By MariahThis book comes in its own box bookmark . You can feel the passion that went into producing this book of the Russian imperial residences at Tsarkoye Selo. The palaces and parks are now 300 years old and much has been restored from the damage done by the Nazis in WWII. Many of the photographs show the detail of the restored walls; furniture; rooms; etc. The history of the construction and reconstruction of the palaces is quite interesting especially the Alexander Palace which was the favorite residence of the last Tsar and his family. This book is very special and has the latest restoration pictures. Originally copyrighted in Russia in 2010 it was translated from French to English in 2012.29 of 31 people found the following review helpful. A Book of Treasures!By B. OlsonQuite a beautifully produced book; that is slipcased as well. Anyone interested in the Romanov's possessions at their Summer Palace will certainly enjoy browsing through this edition. It's more than a coffee table book.However if one is particularly interested in the architecture of the main palace and the pavilions located throughout the extensive grounds; they are shown at the beginning of the book; but certainly not discussed in enough detail.
