    | Unpunished murder : massacre at Colfax and the quest for justice Author: Goldstone, Lawrence | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
On Easter Sunday of 1873, just eight years after the Civil War ended, a band of white supremacists marched into Grant Parish, Louisiana, and massacred over one hundred unarmed African Americans. The court case that followed would reach the highest court in the land. Yet, not a single person was convicted. The opinion issued by the Supreme Court in US v. Cruikshank set in motion a process that would help implement Jim Crow and two-tiered justice.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: UG Reading Level: 9.10 Points: 9.0 Quiz: 199228 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 6-8 Reading Level: 12.90 Points: 12.0 Quiz: 75156 | |
Reviews:
Booklist (+) (06/01/18)
The Hornbook (+) (00/09/18)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 06/01/2018 *Starred Review* This information-packed book discusses the origins and repercussions of the Colfax massacre. In central Louisiana in 1873, white supremacists surrounded a courthouse where more than 100 formerly enslaved men had taken refuge. The attackers set the building ablaze and, after the freedmen came out and surrendered their weapons, shot them. No one was convicted of those murders. A Supreme Court decision related to the massacre resulted in the dismantling of Reconstruction and the swift return of widespread discrimination and violence against black Americans, particularly in the South. Offering a broad view of the issues, Goldstone presents a great deal of relevant background material on constitutional history, the federal court system, and the Dred Scott decision as well as describing significant individuals and political factions during the Reconstruction period. The illustrations include period portraits, photos, and political cartoons. Though the many details regarding government officials, judicial rulings, and widespread corruption during the period can be fascinating, students without a solid foundation in American history may lose interest. Those who persevere will find a gripping story and a well-informed perspective on American history. Spotlighting an event seldom discussed in books for young people, Goldstone provides a complex, useful historical context for understanding issues surrounding race and justice. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.
