Customer Reviews

Negrophobia: A Race Riot in Atlanta, 1906

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Having found very little about the Atlanta Race Riot of 1906, imagine my delight at coming across "Negrophobia." There's so little about this event that anything would have been fine, but Bauerlein's study is exhaustive and a damn good read.

The author made the wise choice of spending considerable time setting the scene, looking at the entire cast of characters and 1906 Atlanta. He thereby sets the stage and makes the story of this horrendous riot that much more compelling.

I was also impressed by Bauerlein's straight forward account. He does not editorialize, instead letting the facts speak for themselves.

Atlanta was a relatively progressive city in the Jim Crow South, yet was far from immune to virulent and violent racism. Indeed the state of hysteria white women were whipped into in the South was probably as bad in Atlanta as anwyhere. The demonizing of African-Americans concurrent with the paranoia they engendered is at the heart of the riots.

Baurelein's books fills a huge void and is great reading.

Scrupulously researched and well written "Negrophobia" is a gripping recount of the events prior to, during, and after Atlanta's 1906 Race Riot; a long neglected chapter of Atlanta's history. Bauerlein does an outstanding job of putting that era in context, especially the events in Georgia and Atlanta that led to, and created the environment for the riot. The race-baiting gubernatorial election of 1906, the rampant yellow journalism hyping black-on-white violence, and Thomas Dixon's "The Klansman" all play a part in creating the toxic brew. Bauerlein thankfully includes a Dramatis Personae at the front of the book so readers can keep central historical figures easily identifiable. The action is broken into four logically titled components: Prelude, Riot, Aftermath, and Epilogue. This simple elegant construction serves the native well, recreating the Atlanta of 1906, setting the riot in motion, and speaking of its aftermath. Bauerlein wisely lets the principals speak in their own words and betrays no bias towards or against anyone or anything, remaining a neutral voice leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. Buerlein is unsparing in his recounting the events of the riot in a way that can send chills down your spine and this book isn't for faint-hearts, yet is not needlessly gory. The book fairly crackles with energy and drama but those easily offended by racism would best avoid it as Bauerlein doesn't shy away from exploring and explaining it. I immensely enjoyed this book and can't help but praise Bauerlein's writing and scrupulous research.

This is an objective historical account, but I couldn't help thinking as I read it: "What a great story!" It has all the makings of a really good potboiler - an unexpected treat for such serious subjects.

As for the matters of race, anyone who wants to read about how people really experienced race relations on the ground and in their daily lives should read this book.

This is a sharp, erudite, and very readable account of Atlanta's turbulent racial politics in 1906. But it is also much more than a historical study of a single year. Mark Bauerlein has produced an impressive analysis of black intellectual history at the turn of the century. His observations are precise, and his reconstruction of events vivid. I recommend this book highly.

Scrupulously researched and well written "Negrophobia" is a gripping recount of the events prior to, during, and after Atlanta's 1906 Race Riot; a long neglected chapter of Atlanta's history. Bauerlein does an outstanding job of putting that era in context, especially the events in Georgia and Atlanta that led to, and created the environment for the riot. The race-baiting gubernatorial election of 1906, the rampant yellow journalism hyping black-on-white violence, and Thomas Dixon's "The Klansman" all play a part in creating the toxic brew. Bauerlein thankfully includes a Dramatis Personae at the front of the book so readers can keep central historical figures easily identifiable. The action is broken into four logically titled components: Prelude, Riot, Aftermath, and Epilogue. This simple elegant construction serves the native well, recreating the Atlanta of 1906, setting the riot in motion, and speaking of its aftermath. Bauerlein wisely lets the principals speak in their own words and betrays no bias towards or against anyone or anything, remaining a neutral voice leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. Buerlein is unsparing in his recounting the events of the riot in a way that can send chills down your spine and this book isn't for faint-hearts, yet is not needlessly gory. The book fairly crackles with energy and drama but those easily offended by racism would best avoid it as Bauerlein doesn't shy away from exploring and explaining it. I immensely enjoyed this book and can't help but praise Bauerlein's writing and scrupulous research.

Scrupulously researched and well written "Negrophobia" is a gripping recount of the events prior to, during, and after Atlanta's 1906 Race Riot; a long neglected chapter of Atlanta's history. Bauerlein does an outstanding job of putting that era in context, especially the events in Georgia and Atlanta that led to, and created the environment for the riot. The race-baiting gubernatorial election of 1906, the rampant yellow journalism hyping black-on-white violence, and Thomas Dixon's "The Klansman" all play a part in creating the toxic brew. Bauerlein thankfully includes a Dramatis Personae at the front of the book so readers can keep central historical figures easily identifiable. The action is broken into four logically titled components: Prelude, Riot, Aftermath, and Epilogue. This simple elegant construction serves the native well, recreating the Atlanta of 1906, setting the riot in motion, and speaking of its aftermath. Bauerlein wisely lets the principals speak in their own words and betrays no bias towards or against anyone or anything, remaining a neutral voice leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. Buerlein is unsparing in his recounting the events of the riot in a way that can send chills down your spine and this book isn't for faint-hearts, yet is not needlessly gory. The book fairly crackles with energy and drama but those easily offended by racism would best avoid it as Bauerlein doesn't shy away from exploring and explaining it. I immensely enjoyed this book and can't help but praise Bauerlein's writing and scrupulous research.

Scrupulously researched and well written "Negrophobia" is a gripping recount of the events prior to, during, and after Atlanta's 1906 Race Riot; a long neglected chapter of Atlanta's history. Bauerlein does an outstanding job of putting that era in context, especially the events in Georgia and Atlanta that led to, and created the environment for the riot. The race-baiting gubernatorial election of 1906, the rampant yellow journalism hyping black-on-white violence, and Thomas Dixon's "The Klansman" all play a part in creating the toxic brew. Bauerlein thankfully includes a Dramatis Personae at the front of the book so readers can keep central historical figures easily identifiable. The action is broken into four logically titled components: Prelude, Riot, Aftermath, and Epilogue. This simple elegant construction serves the native well, recreating the Atlanta of 1906, setting the riot in motion, and speaking of its aftermath. Bauerlein wisely lets the principals speak in their own words and betrays no bias towards or against anyone or anything, remaining a neutral voice leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. Buerlein is unsparing in his recounting the events of the riot in a way that can send chills down your spine and this book isn't for faint-hearts, yet is not needlessly gory. The book fairly crackles with energy and drama but those easily offended by racism would best avoid it as Bauerlein doesn't shy away from exploring and explaining it. I immensely enjoyed this book and can't help but praise Bauerlein's writing and scrupulous research.

I believe the author did an excellent job in painting the climate that initiated the white mob slaughter of the black population in 1906 in Atlanta. The Atlanta Journal , other newspapers, and politicians are directly responsible for stroking racial hatred and white fear for black citizens.

People who say that the media doesn't have an influence on the mindset of the viewers are in absolute denial of the media's power to project images - positive or negative. Look at today's media and how they purposely demonize Black Americans. Images are powerful.

For black Americans there was/is no such thing as justice. It is "just us" justice. It was a painful book to read, but a must read.

I recommend it strongly.