Review by Choice Review
Baker (Royal Holloway, Univ. of London) presents seven case studies of lynchings that occurred in the Carolinas spanning the years from Reconstruction to shortly after WW II. The author lays out the public narratives constructed around these crimes and the facts as believed at the time, while also measuring belief against the inherent logic of events. Among the book's strong points are recognition that lynching blacks was employed to maintain the subordinate position of white women, understanding that lynchings had roots in Reconstruction, and seeing the connection between lynching and suppression of free speech during WW I. Baker considers two instances of lynchings by blacks, but it is clearly a fact that southern society was quick to condone lynchings by whites of blacks while being prone to indifference in punishing black-upon-black violence. An exaggerated stress on the role of working people in lynching while ignoring the culpability of privileged whites--individuals and governmental institutions--for which there is considerable evidence weakens Baker's analysis. Although overall there is some lack of clarity, this is a useful work. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries. H. Shapiro emeritus, University of Cincinnati
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
