Unpunished Murder

June 1, 2018
An account of a little-known Reconstruction-era massacre, how it came about, and its influence on U.S. history.The prologue tells the story of the Colfax massacre itself, when over 100 black men were murdered by white supremacists in Louisiana in 1873. The book then backtracks to the early days of the U.S., chronicling individuals and events that would later affect the situation in Colfax: the formation of the Supreme Court, the Dred Scott decision, the racist attitudes of presidents Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson, the passionate abolitionist Radical Republican Thaddeus Stevens, the Ku Klux Klan, and more. While some moments of historical import help put the Colfax massacre in context, others are overly detailed, and readers may wonder if they are necessary at all. Colfax comes up again nearly halfway through the text, with lawyer J.R. Beckwith's fight for justice for the slaughtered. His efforts were actively thwarted by the U.S. government, leading to the creation of the Jim Crow South. Despite being overly long, this book shines a light on a shameful sea change moment in U.S. history, although the message of injustice is weakened by the positive presentation of the Homestead Act which forcibly removed Native Americans from their land. Though the book ends abruptly, readers will come away with a thorough understanding of the Colfax massacre and its place in America's past and present.Difficult and necessary. (glossary, bibliography, source notes, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from June 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 *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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

Starred review from September 1, 2018
In 1873, a mob of armed white men massacred more than one hundred black freedmen in the town of Colfax in central Louisiana. Setting the stage for the horrific events, Goldstone traces several important ideas through the early history of the United States: the growth in influence of the Supreme Court after John Marshall introduced the concept of judicial review; the uneasy balance of power between state and federal governments; and the racism written into the Constitution as the Three-Fifths Compromise and subsequently espoused by America's leading politicians and judges. During Reconstruction, emboldened white Southerners turned to the terrorism of white supremacy groups to undermine the work of the self-termed Radical Republicans in Congress (who intended to forcibly abolish racial inequality ), the Colfax Massacre being a prime example. After a mistrial, three of the nine defendants were found guilty, but a circuit judge overturned their convictions, and the Supreme Court upheld that decision, essentially vitiating the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments. The book is, in large part, the story of how racism evolves, persisting in laws and politics despite major social advances. The anemic response of the American justice system in this particular episode, especially given the scale of the tragedy and the weight of the evidence, directly presages the end of Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow. Extensive back matter includes a glossary, a bibliography, source notes, and an index. jonathan hunt

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2018
In 1873, a mob of armed white men massacred more than one hundred black freedmen in the town of Colfax in central Louisiana. Setting the stage for the horrific events, Goldstone traces several important ideas through the early history of the United States: the growth in influence of the Supreme Court after John Marshall introduced the concept of judicial review; the uneasy balance of power between state and federal governments; and the racism written into the Constitution as the Three-Fifths Compromise and subsequently espoused by America's leading politicians and judges. During Reconstruction, emboldened white Southerners turned to the terrorism of white supremacy groups to undermine the work of the self-termed Radical Republicans in Congress (who intended to forcibly abolish racial inequality ), the Colfax Massacre being a prime example. After a mistrial, three of the nine defendants were found guilty, but a circuit judge overturned their convictions, and the Supreme Court upheld that decision, essentially vitiating the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments. The book is, in large part, the story of how racism evolves, persisting in laws and politics despite major social advances. The anemic response of the American justice system in this particular episode, especially given the scale of the tragedy and the weight of the evidence, directly presages the end of Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow. Extensive back matter includes a glossary, a bibliography, source notes, and an index. jonathan hunt

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2019
In 1873, a mob of armed white men massacred more than one hundred black "freedmen" in the town of Colfax in central Louisiana. Goldstone sets the stage for this horrific, unpunished event by tracing important ideas through the early history of the United States. The book is, in large part, the story of how racism evolves, persisting in laws and politics despite major social advances. Bib., glos., ind.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)