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jessuh27's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
mgouker's review against another edition
5.0
A long horrific account of America's deliberate segregation, its underlying current of white-onliness, born out of Loewen's personal journey of awakening to the fact he was surrounded by Sundown Towns, those locales so hostile to blacks that the communities orchestrate ways to keep them out. It's a long, hard slog, filled with disheartening stories, marks of shame of our past, of our present really, but books like this are so important both as eye-openers and motivators. Nobody conscious to American culture--again not just its history! We are talking about the present in many instances here--can deny these exclusionary practices, but Loewen focuses on the scale using census data and adds anecdotes that personalize the experience.
I read a lot of reviews here that mention how terrible reading this makes everyone feel, but for my part, I am overwhelmed by optimism, because it is clear how far we have come as a people. That we still have far to go is unquestionable, but great strides are being made, especially by the young. Books like this one are likely one of the factors. The history we teach is the one our children learn, so we should all thank Loewen for his huge effort.
THAT being said, yes, it's a slog, but it's a whole lot harder being one of the characters in the anecdotes than a reader in the 21st century.
I read a lot of reviews here that mention how terrible reading this makes everyone feel, but for my part, I am overwhelmed by optimism, because it is clear how far we have come as a people. That we still have far to go is unquestionable, but great strides are being made, especially by the young. Books like this one are likely one of the factors. The history we teach is the one our children learn, so we should all thank Loewen for his huge effort.
THAT being said, yes, it's a slog, but it's a whole lot harder being one of the characters in the anecdotes than a reader in the 21st century.
danicapage's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
I was very excited to read this book. It was one I was really really looking forward to. I was expecting an informative and academic bent, but this was much more academic and dry than I had expected. This one was a slog to get through, evidenced by the fact it took me almost a month to get through it when I read most books in a day or two.
However, I didn't DNF it because I thought the events it was outlining and the thoroughness with which the author detailed his research were important and warranted my continuing to read it. Maybe it was the voice of the audio narrator, because everybody else seems to love it who has reviewed it, but I struggled to get through this.
This book tackles the question of why so many cities were whites only, why we have a society that is so segregated by races and details a part of history that is often a footnote if it is mentioned at all.
So I am glad I read it, but it was a tough read. If you like nonfiction that's well-researched well-cited, and academic, then this is for you. It's an extremely important book and, covering an extremely important topic, but it wasn't for me.
However, I didn't DNF it because I thought the events it was outlining and the thoroughness with which the author detailed his research were important and warranted my continuing to read it. Maybe it was the voice of the audio narrator, because everybody else seems to love it who has reviewed it, but I struggled to get through this.
This book tackles the question of why so many cities were whites only, why we have a society that is so segregated by races and details a part of history that is often a footnote if it is mentioned at all.
So I am glad I read it, but it was a tough read. If you like nonfiction that's well-researched well-cited, and academic, then this is for you. It's an extremely important book and, covering an extremely important topic, but it wasn't for me.
meghanhines's review against another edition
very very dense with information (you can tell this is extremely well-researched) but it is still accessible and remains interesting throughout. does a really great job at unveiling just how deep seeded american racism and antiblackness is in a way that our history classes and mainstream media fail to do
jamelchior's review against another edition
This is probably the most significant book I've read in the past few years. James W. Loewen, author of Lies My Teacher Taught Me, goes into detail about the biggest lie of all in this detailed exploration of the systematic and intentional exclusion of African Americans, often by means of violent terrorism, from entire towns, counties, and one whole region of the country. This was far more widespread than I knew, and more than the author himself realized at the beginning of his research. Racism was not only about slavery and the Jim Crow south, but flourished in the North and West.
The subject matter is very painful but if you know of any intentionally all-white communities, the honesty is so, so refreshing.
"Living in a place where not everyone looks alike and not everyone votes alike is surely good for the mind as well as the children."
The subject matter is very painful but if you know of any intentionally all-white communities, the honesty is so, so refreshing.
"Living in a place where not everyone looks alike and not everyone votes alike is surely good for the mind as well as the children."
crobey's review against another edition
3.0
Frustrated I am just learning about this now, but definitely a good jumping off point for a further investigation.
coleperry's review against another edition
5.0
This is such important knowledge.
My obsession with researching the sundown history of my town has greatly increased.
My obsession with researching the sundown history of my town has greatly increased.
bryan8063's review against another edition
5.0
This was a real eye opener. It is a must read for anyone interested in civil rights history and issues. I don't think I will look at a neighborhood quite the same ever again.