A super interesting and incredibly well written glimpse into the forced desegregation of Boston's schools in the 1907's. TolThere's just so much here.
A super interesting and incredibly well written glimpse into the forced desegregation of Boston's schools in the 1907's. Told the through eyes of three families, Common Ground, explores seemingly every corner of this "turbulent decade."
Akin to Simple Justice and We Are Not Afraid in terms of it's lengthy exposition touching on seemingly everything. Not quite as captivating as the former two, but definitely well worth having read....more
A brilliant glimpse into the life of an incredible man. As Farrell points out early on, Darrow was indeed a man of great contradictions. Yet throughouA brilliant glimpse into the life of an incredible man. As Farrell points out early on, Darrow was indeed a man of great contradictions. Yet throughout the book you're drawn to feel the many tensions at play in his life that could easily lead to seeming contradictions, all in the name of some greater cause.
Darrow lived a rollercoaster of a life. As a lawyer, he was often in the media, at the helm of noteworthy cases. Yet, he seemed to live in constant fear of debt and with enemies around every corner. His life is one of beauty in retrospect, but must have been profoundly terrifying at the time, and far from glorious.
Darrow's fights for the poor, the downtrodden, the marginalized, and the otherwise-unrepresented sealed his fate as 'attorney for the damned,' and as an almost mythological model for a budding lawyer....more
I've long known of this book and likely long avoided it presuming that I knew the entire story of Clarence Earl Gideon. He was a poor man coBeautiful!
I've long known of this book and likely long avoided it presuming that I knew the entire story of Clarence Earl Gideon. He was a poor man convicted of a crime without an attorney, whose case resulted in the Supreme Court decision expanding the right to counsel that we presume is part and parcel of our criminal legal system. But that is only a small piece of the full story.
Anthony Lewis brings Gideon to life, both the case and the person. The book beautifully recounts Gideon's tale, bringing the human element to the foreground. Behind each case, each law, each decision are those whose lives have been and will be effected. This easily overlooked axiom is not lost on Lewis.
Just as Gideon himself is brought to life, so too is the Supreme Court as Lewis traces the justices personal histories and views leading to their individual and collective decisions. The institution is described in fascinating detail in way where there to the human element is key.
This is a fantastic read regardless of one's interest in the law or right to counsel. An excellently crafted and presented story!...more
Communists, drifters, Jews, good ole' boys, carpetbaggers and their battle over the fates of nine young black men dragged off a train in Paint Rock, ACommunists, drifters, Jews, good ole' boys, carpetbaggers and their battle over the fates of nine young black men dragged off a train in Paint Rock, Albama, accused of rape, and sentenced to death. In a series of legal battles that would drag on for decades, the Scottsboro Boys's cases bounced up and down through the courts, twice being heard by the United States Supreme Court.
Weaving the tale together through an unimaginable amount of research, Goodman presents the stories through the eyes of all the involved parties. The book comes at the trials from a number of different angles, converging around the questions of race, justice, equity, and criminal procedure - all of which were bent, twisted, and molded in disgusting ways.
A long and detailed read that would be well worth it for anyone deeply interested in the deep south or interested in taking a glimpse of just how egregious miscarriages of justice are carried out, right in front of our faces....more
From running shoe-less through the streets of New Orleans to playing Carnegie Hall and touring the world, Mahalia Jackson is one of New Orleans' brighFrom running shoe-less through the streets of New Orleans to playing Carnegie Hall and touring the world, Mahalia Jackson is one of New Orleans' brightest shining stars. Always true to her convictions, Mahalia resisted a world of temptations, sharing the word of God through her song, as the bible intended it to be!
This well put together and easy to read biography takes us through Mahalia's life from birth to death. Having heard her name all throughout New Orleans, I was curious to learn both about the woman and her music. This book jumped out at me from a teen must-read shelf a the local library and I couldn't be more pleased!
Mahalia's convictions, strength and resilience are profound. Her character shines through whether performing in small southern churches or before Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial. An undeniably important woman who helped not only bring gospel music into the public conscious but did so while actively fighting the injustices, yet unsettled, that rang so true during her time.
A must read for young musicians, singers, New Orleanians or folks of the book!
A fascinating look at the man behind so many of our childhood tales. Though a household name in countries across the globe, few can attest to anythingA fascinating look at the man behind so many of our childhood tales. Though a household name in countries across the globe, few can attest to anything more than the titles of his works, including the man's real name!
Theodore Geisel was was first and foremost an artist. Of both language and visual media. He was secondly a brilliant political commentator.
This biography is incredibly inclusive, chronicling the entire life of this literary champion from Mulberry Street to the hills of La Jolla and around the world.
Long and detailed, it most certainly takes time to get through, but the story of Mr. Geisel's life is well worth it. From his unending quirkiness to unrestrained sense of mischief, Dr. Seuss embodied the child in all of us.
Finally, may it be noted that there are perhaps no words more pertinent than those Seuss left to his biographers as his parting message. "We can. . .and we've got to. . . do better than this."