Civil Rights' History - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

OrangeUte · 10-07-2007, 05:58 PM

The recent thread on racism got me thinking about some of the very good books I have read regarding the civil rights' movement here in the USA. In my opinion, Taylor Branch's three book history is the best. While its focal point is Dr. King (it reads almost like a biography of MLK), we are introduced and become acquainted with most of the players on both sides of the divide. I enjoyed reading these book immensely. Branch's style was similar to David McAuliffe's in that it read like a story rather than a recitation of facts. Of course, Branch is a journalist, which likely colored his reporting of the history in these books.

I remember readingParting the Water, the waiting for Pillar of Fire and then waiting like crazy for At Caanan's edge. It was almost as impatient a wait as the Harry Potter books provided.

I also enjoyed John Lewis's memoir "Walking with the Wind".

Any other books you have read on either the Civil Right's movement, or biographies of its leaders, that were well-done?

marsupial · 10-07-2007, 06:18 PM

No, I haven't read any and I appreciate this thread because I have been wanting to pick up one.

SeattleUte · 10-07-2007, 09:10 PM

Richard Wright's works of fiction paint a vivid picture of Jim Crowe. An excellent, short read is Uncle Tom's Children. Also, Richard Kluger, Simple Justice: The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Black America's Struggle for Equality (1975; New York: Vintage Books, 1977). ISBN 0-394-72255-8

10-07-2007, 05:58 PM	#1
OrangeUte Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 748	Civil Rights' History The recent thread on racism got me thinking about some of the very good books I have read regarding the civil rights' movement here in the USA. In my opinion, Taylor Branch's three book history is the best. While its focal point is Dr. King (it reads almost like a biography of MLK), we are introduced and become acquainted with most of the players on both sides of the divide. I enjoyed reading these book immensely. Branch's style was similar to David McAuliffe's in that it read like a story rather than a recitation of facts. Of course, Branch is a journalist, which likely colored his reporting of the history in these books. I remember readingParting the Water, the waiting for Pillar of Fire and then waiting like crazy for At Caanan's edge. It was almost as impatient a wait as the Harry Potter books provided. I also enjoyed John Lewis's memoir "Walking with the Wind". Any other books you have read on either the Civil Right's movement, or biographies of its leaders, that were well-done?

10-07-2007, 09:10 PM	#3
SeattleUte fairlds.org Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 10,665	Richard Wright's works of fiction paint a vivid picture of Jim Crowe. An excellent, short read is Uncle Tom's Children. Also, Richard Kluger, Simple Justice: The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Black America's Struggle for Equality (1975; New York: Vintage Books, 1977). ISBN 0-394-72255-8 __________________ Interrupt all you like. We're involved in a complicated story here, and not everything is quite what it seems to be. —Paul Auster

10-07-2007, 06:18 PM	#2
marsupial Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I... Isn't it so fun to spell? Posts: 1,701	No, I haven't read any and I appreciate this thread because I have been wanting to pick up one.