Winner of the Gulf South Historical Association's Michael Thomas Book Award. In Searching for Freedom after the Civil War: Klansman; Carpetbagger; Scalawag; and Freedman; G. Ward Hubbs uses a stark and iconic political cartoon to illuminate postwar conflicts over the meaning of freedom in the American South. The cartoon first appeared in the Tuskaloosa Independent Monitor; published by local Ku Klux Klan boss Ryland Randolph; as a swaggering threat aimed at three individuals. Hanged from an oak branch clutching a carpetbag marked “OHIO†is the Reverend Arad S. Lakin; the Northern-born incoming president of the University of Alabama. Swinging from another noose is Dr. Noah B. Cloud—agricultural reformer; superintendent of education; and deemed by Randolph a “scalawag†for joining Alabama’s reformed state government. The accompanying caption; penned in purple prose; similarly threatens Shandy Jones; a politically active local man of color. Using a dynamic and unprecedented approach that interprets the same events through four points of view; Hubbs artfully unpacks numerous layers of meaning behind this brutal two-dimensional image. The four men associated with the cartoon—Randolph; Lakin; Cloud; and Jones—were archetypes of those who were seeking to rebuild a South shattered by war. Hubbs explores these broad archetypes but also delves deeply into the four men’s life stories; writings; speeches; and decisions in order to recreate each one’s complex worldview and quest to live freely. Their lives; but especially their four very different understandings of freedom; help to explain many of the conflicts of the 1860s. The result is an intellectual tour de force. General readers of this highly accessible volume will discover fascinating new insights about life during and after America’s greatest crisis; as will scholars of the Civil War; Reconstruction; and southern history.
#1395020 in Books 2015-09-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x 1.00 x 5.50l; .0 #File Name: 0816698775232 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great storyBy Robert WetherilleAs a member of the baby boom generation; I was struck by my lack of knowledge of the Korean War. My dad was a WWII vet; and my uncle a Korea vet. Recently I asked my uncle about his military experience- all he could say was that it was the most miserable 2 years of his life. I lost friends and knew people who were POWs in Vietnam; but never knew how horrible the situation was for prisoners of the Korean conflict. As I read Catherine's book; I reflected on my experiences growing up where nearly every teacher or dad was a vet; some even POWs. Some seemed to have personalities which were troubled by their experience. The behaviors of Doc reminded me of a dysfunctional neighbor who had been a prisoner in the South Pacific. The intelligence of the members of the Boysen family seemed to carry them through to successful lives; despite the tortured life Doc lived and its effect on his family. An inspiring story of a family who seemed to have survived it all.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Harrowing story but lacks reflection by author about what she learned and being able to confront her abuserBy Inquiring MindMadison's childhood growing up with a father suffering from internalized trauma/PTSD and a mother who chose not to protect her is at times riveting and confounding. She nails what it is like to be raised by a controlling; authoritarian; abusive father. The parallel story about his time in the Korean War and a participant in the Death March is heartbreaking. I saw her read last year at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis after being nominated for a MN book award (she didn't get it). It compelled me to buy the book.However; I was left with questions and an unsatisfying conclusion. She has two brothers and their experience with the father is barely touched on. Did her brothers get away with behavior (real or perceived by this paranoid maniac) because they were male? Was there more incestuous behavior? He certainly was guilty of emotional incest and she talks about the total lack of privacy - very common in families where there is incest. My biggest disappointment with the book is her lack of coming to terms with her abusive parents; there is little reflecting back on her experience in a way that shows the reader she has moved on; would not tolerate that behavior today; can confront abuse when she sees it today. Did she ever go to therapy? Did she ever confront her father or mother about the abuse or was she simply reactive? As an adult; she still seemed to be always surprised when he blew up. I am writing a book on father/daughter incest and one of the most important things beyond telling the story of my childhood is what I have learned about myself; my family; and the characteristics of an abusive family that gives some insight to the reader. I guess I wanted Madison to stand up to her father and mother. The whole thing about her first pregnancy and their uber control over her wedding is a case in point. Perhaps she wasn't in a place to be that strong and honest at that time; but there was opportunity later. Writing letter(s) to the offender is a great place to start naming the abuse. What they do with that is something the survivor cannot control; but the very act of putting words down and stating examples of the abuse is a powerful thing to do.I also wondered about a story she told of living in Minneapolis and two black men coming to her door (she had just given birth to her daughter) asking to look at an apartment for rent. This story goes no where except twice she writes about the neighborhood being questionable. One thing I get from reading a lot of memoirs is what not to do as a writer. This is one of them. This story seemed mildly racist (I am a white 66 years old woman) and did nothing to drive the narrative. I an surprised an editor didn't catch this.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Inspiring Look at a Cruel War; as Unspoken Questions are AnsweredBy Hunter BrumfieldAs a child of a Korean War Army vet I shared so many of the feelings with this author. Her vivid description of what happened to her father who was a POW in extremely cruel and challenging conditions helped me understand how lucky we all were to have come out of that terrible war with heads held high and backs unbowed. Thank you; Catherine; for the cathartic release your book can give to several generations of military vets and their offspring. This book goes a long way to answering questions we never knew to ask; but fortunately you did.
