Customer Reviews

On the Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the Twenty-first Century

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In the aftermath of Michael Richards' racist meltdown in 2006, I found it curious that outrage focused primarily on his spewing of the n-word, whereas his casual reference to his alleged heckler being a candidate for lynching not long ago drew comparatively little comment in the white media.

Then again, perhaps it's not surprising. Nearly 5,000 black Americans were lynched between 1890 and 1960, and the prevailing perception in white communities is of clandestine acts perpetrated by a handful of outside agitators and "bad apples." But in reality, as Sherrilyn Ifill clearly documents, lynchings were public spectacles, community events cheered on by large crowds of people from all walks of life - often quite literally on the courthouse lawn, and photographed for posterity. The conspiracy of silence (or "passive postlynching complicity") ensured that not a single perpetrator was ever brought to justice for the heinous crimes, and white supremacy was reinforced.

In the first part of the book, Ifill lays a foundation by exploring the history of lynchings and near lynchings on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the 1930's, and discusses the legacy of this racial trauma on both white and black communities. The second part examines techniques for racial reconciliation and reparation, including those of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and suggests a roadmap for communities interested in restorative justice, which requires honest and open communication not only among races but within them.

A civil rights lawyer and professor, Ifill's writing is clear, concise and compelling. This is more like a conversation with a friend than a lecture from a professor, and despite the painful subject matter, I found it hard to put down. Highly recommended!

An excellent account of a violent period of African American history. Professor Ifill's research and fact finding accounts gave her a unique prospective into a dark area of American "culture" that many have tried to ignore or surpress.

A gripping account that shines a bright, incisive light on a shameful and denied history.

Sad but true and still happening in many places of America. I have passed this book along and repurchased it for my library. A must read if you care about the future of America and the world.