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highestiqinfresno's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
davidschwarz's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
charliebenwah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
A very topical book with a lot of very valuable information and insights that a lot of people need to be made aware of.
rharriskay's review against another edition
3.25
The description of this book was what hooked me: a look at the conflicting views on federal "overreach" in America between white and minority Americans, using Barbour County, Alabama, home of George Wallace, as a case study.
Unfortunately, the resulting product isn't as interesting as I had hoped.
For its strengths, the first and final fourth of the book are interesting. My knowledge of the Second Creek War was practically nonexistent, which made reading that section particularly interesting, and George Wallace is a near larger than life figure in pro-segregationist history, giving plenty of content. But what dragged was the middle portion of the book, focusing on Barbour County during Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era. Unfortunately for the book, Barbour County wasn't unique in its treatment of black Americans, and the author often has to pull from other incidents to fluff out these potions of the novel.
And fluff is another key world. Many sections of this book felt far too repetitive, restating the same ideas again and again. I also don't care for leading speculation on the thoughts on individuals who didn't leave any behind. I don't think we need to speculate on the racism of white settlers that stole Creek lands; their actions speak for themselves and speculation only makes it seem like the existing argument is weak.
I still give it 3.25 stars, because the information contained in this book was interesting at times, particularly the beginning and end of the work, but I can't help but feel I'd have been better off just reading a biography of George Wallace and a full retelling of the Second Creek War over reading this book.
Unfortunately, the resulting product isn't as interesting as I had hoped.
For its strengths, the first and final fourth of the book are interesting. My knowledge of the Second Creek War was practically nonexistent, which made reading that section particularly interesting, and George Wallace is a near larger than life figure in pro-segregationist history, giving plenty of content. But what dragged was the middle portion of the book, focusing on Barbour County during Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era. Unfortunately for the book, Barbour County wasn't unique in its treatment of black Americans, and the author often has to pull from other incidents to fluff out these potions of the novel.
And fluff is another key world. Many sections of this book felt far too repetitive, restating the same ideas again and again. I also don't care for leading speculation on the thoughts on individuals who didn't leave any behind. I don't think we need to speculate on the racism of white settlers that stole Creek lands; their actions speak for themselves and speculation only makes it seem like the existing argument is weak.
I still give it 3.25 stars, because the information contained in this book was interesting at times, particularly the beginning and end of the work, but I can't help but feel I'd have been better off just reading a biography of George Wallace and a full retelling of the Second Creek War over reading this book.
frodomom214's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Worthy of its award. A work that transports and teaches.
eowyns_helmet's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent and eye-opening. I learned a lot about the connection between concepts of "freedom" being deeply rooted in White supremacy and manifest destiny. This description of President Andrew Jackson stopped me cold: His body "was the corporeal archive of his pugnacious soul. The bullet [from a duel] caused him 'violent pain' on a regular basis, with bouts of blood gurgling into his mouth as well as probable poisoning from the ball leaking lead into his system. He could barely eat. Plagued by malaria and recurring bouts of typhoid, typhus and dysentery, his merciless battle wounds scarred his internal organs as much as his outward appearance. His teeth were painfully rotten..."