Customer Reviews

LIKE JUDGMENT DAY, The Ruin and Redemption of a Town Called Rosewood (Movie Tie-In to ROSEWOOD)

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A sad but true story about massacre and cover-up, unfortunately close to home, is told in Michael D'Orso's Like Judgment Day. D'Orso, a journalist, tells the story of Rosewood, Florida, a small, black, paper mill town that was basically wiped off the map when white vigilantes believed that a black man from Rosewood had raped a white woman. D'Orso makes clear that, at the time Rosewood was occurring, it was national news, appearing in the New York Times and elsewhere, yet Florida law enforcement personnel simply stood by and allowed the carnage to continue. D'Orso basically tells two stories: First, the massacre itself, as recounted in both contemporary sources and in the memories of octogenarian and nonagenarian witnesses in the 1980s. Second, he tells of successful efforts to bring a claims bill through the Florida legislature to compensate, however meagerly, the survivors and their descendants. This is not a portion of our past for which we should have any pride; however, the story must be told so that, if at all possible, this history does not repeat itself.

I found this book to be extraordinarily well researched and compelling. D'Orso's journalism background came through in his skillful account and analysis of the historical events of Rosewood, Florida in 1923. He carefully separates fact from and myth and weaves a narrative full of drama, suspense, and inspiration. A must read.

This book is incredible. The way the writer takes us to the history of Rosewood from present day investigation to lawsuit. The background of this predominantly black community and the climate of the south in the early part of the last century are detailed thru newspaper articles and recollections of the survivors. This is definitely not for the sensitive, there are stories that will make your skin crawl. It's an important piece regardless, a book we all should read. The ending is positive and the Rosewood survivors are inspirational. Arnell Doctor, the man that investigated his mother's family all the way to the town that was obliviated from the map of America is an enduring and brave person you'll grow to admire as you read.

Do not read this book looking for a detailed version of what happened in Rosewood 80 years ago. The stories of the survivors, the contemporary news clippings, and lack of unbiased information makes this a difficult if not impossible task. What this book is good at is illustrating the wheels of politics (a lesson that is not readily attained in such a readable format) and pointing out that while there have been many wrongs in American history, that it is important to not only owe up to them, but to try to DO something about them, no matter how long ago they may have happened. While some many think that D'Orso spends too much time introducing the MANY key players in this story, I believe that this adds to the book. He does this in an unbiased way and helped me see that there were so many interpretations on this issue and that none of them were wrong...just different. There are so many lessons that this book helped open my eyes to, that I believe the uncertainty of the history of the Rosewood massacre may add to the book rather than detract. I would reccomend this book to anyone. Period.

This book was recommended by an African-American friend of mine. It is an excellent, excellent book. Shame on the bigots in our country.

I found this book very, very moving; and as an African American woman, it took me on an emotional roller-coaster. I thought the author did a great job of filling out many of the people in the book, that have long since died. I didn't just want a recitation of the facts or a quick history lesson. I think this event deserved more than that, in its re-telling. I wanted to see, feel, hear and get a real glimpse of the people portrayed in the book, and D'Orso accomplished that "in spades". Well done.

This is not a good book if you want to get straight to the facts or a quick summary of what happened. Tight it's not. The author writes in a meandering style, interrupting the narrative with the life stories of every incidental character. I mean I could careless about the jogging habits of some lawyer involved in the case. The movie about Rosewood was not that great either. I think the whole story needs to be retold.