First published 2021
Gordon-Reed assembles twelve original essays that examine the intersection of law and race in American courts. The collection focuses on landmark legal battles that shaped racial dynamics across centuries. Contributors analyze four categories of cases: those fundamental to racial history in America, trials that reveal how race was treated throughout different eras, famous proceedings that captivated their generations, and decisions that created important legal precedents. The essays cover pivotal cases including the Amistad rebellion, Dred Scott's fight for freedom, Plessy v. Ferguson's separate but equal doctrine, the Scottsboro trials, Japanese American internment in Korematsu v. US, school desegregation in Brown v. Board, interracial marriage rights in Loving v. Virginia, affirmative action in Regents v. Bakke, and the OJ Simpson murder trial. These cases involve African Americans, Asian Americans, and white Americans, demonstrating how racial identity frequently influenced courtroom outcomes. The book reveals how trials addressing racism serve as windows into American cultural development across different periods.
Genres: 20th-century, non-fiction, 21st-century, 19th-century, law, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-drama, legal-drama
Setting: America
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century, 21st-Century
312 pages · Paperback · Zoe Kitap
Content warnings: racism