Customer Reviews

Black in Selma: The Uncommon Life of J.L. Chestnut, Jr.

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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Perhaps the most uncommon thing about Mr. Chestnut, the first African-American lawyer in Selma, is that he doesn't see himself as that extraordinary.

This book, which was as much about the man as it was about the civil rights movement, was a quick read that I often wished would last a lot longer.

I really enjoyed both the front-line perspective on a movement I only read about in history books, and as a law student, the legal angle was also fascinating.

I love this biography. J.L. Chestnut, Jr. is a fascinating human being, and this book is filled with amazing and important history as well as hilarious stories from his life. A friend got me to read it one day when I was feeling down. He just asked me to read the first chapter (which is HILARIOUS), and I ended up reading the whole thing in two days -- I couldn't put it down. Throughout it, I was thoroughly inspired. A must read.

This book gave be an insight to the Selma, Al that I had not heard or read about. I am planning to visit Selma one day because of this book. The author makes you feel as if you were in Selma or had been to Selma. I really enjoyed reading this book. Would love to read more work by this author. Has this author published anything lately?

An excellent account of life growing up and practicing law as the first black lawyer at Ground Zero of the voting rights movement. The book provides interesting insights into life in the South both before and after the cataclysmic events of the 1960's in Alabama. It also provides a unique perspective on the development of a law practice in a hostile environment.

This is a wonderful book detailing the experiences of an individual that contributed to the transformation of our nation during the civil rights era. It is a must read by anyone interested in U.S. history, history of the south or just what it's like growing up in a small Southern town. A great book and I recommend it to anyone regardless of age or race.

Black in Selma is an extraordinary book and gives the reader a superb mental depiction of Selma and times of the 1940s to present day. I read it from cover to cover in one day; I simply couldn't put it down. The racism that African-Americans endured is incredible!

A wonderful book about Mr. Chestnut growing up in Selma. Some of the stories made me laugh so hard tears came to my eyes. But life for blacks in the south was hell. You will remember this one.

Great information about political strategy behind the civil rights movement and historical details that you won't read anywhere else. As an activist and organizer, I learned a lot from this book.

The book shows the sheer guts it took to do these things when the outcome of the civil rights movement was not at all certain. I also appreciated the way the book remembered important and courageous people, some of whom risked their lives, and who might otherwise be lost to history. I hope Mr. Chestnut writes another book.

This book is a very good description of local Selma people during the civil rights movement. The description of the confrontation between John Lewis and Sheriff Jim Clark is alone worth the price of the book.

But the best part of the book concerns the continuing efforts of the black people in Selma to maintain the gains of the movement, especially against white establishment efforts to take away black votes by subterfuge. The trials and tribulations of Albert Turner, who recently died, are partiularly illuminating. Everyone who is interested in the continuing stuggle to keep the movement going should read this book.

Very informative, learned alot about Chesnut's early years, given information about George Wallace when he was a Judge and how compassionate and respectful he was of Attorney Chesnut in court.