Customer Reviews

The Past Is Never Dead: The Trial of James Ford Seale and Mississippi's Struggle for Redemption

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On a steamy May Saturday in 1964,two young black men, still very much alive, were chained to engine blocks and heaved over the side of a boat into a tributary of the Mississippi River. Just outsife Meadeville, Misss.

Harry N. MacLean's compelling new book about the trial of James Ford Seale, the Klan member finally being tried for the crimes, tells the sordid tale of the Klan run wild in rural Mississippi in the '50s and '60s and their many well-known murders, some made famous on film.

But McLean, who spent weeks in the courtroom talking with the observers and trial participants, also believes that by the state's revisiting the decades old crime, Mississippi is hoping to atone for those sins.

A lawyer himself, and author of the best-selling true crime novel "In Broad Daylight", gives poignant descriptions of the trial victims and their survivors, the now very old and very ill defendant, his mostly absent family, the top-of-the-line attorneys and those who have just come to watch and listen and comment.

But he also takes us across the state to towns from the Gulf Coast to the piney hills and even to the Ole Miss vs. LSU football game to help us understand the perceptions of the the state's past and present of today's Mississipians.

In "The Past Is Never Dead" Harry MacLean has captured the mindset of the poorest state in the former Confederacy as it was in the mid-twentieth century. Using the trial of James Ford Seale as his centerpiece, MacLean shows the reader how Mississippi (and by inference, the entire deep South) has changed in the last sixty years. His writing is engaging, the subject matter is fascinating, and his treatment of the principal characters is fair minded and empathetic. This book is a must for anyone wishing to more deeply understand this country's recent history.

Another riveting tale from author Harry MacLean, this time concentrating on the deep south. MacLean's ability to not only get into the real facts but also to present a subtle yet powerful understanding of the community and human dynamics is unparalleled. MacLean is one of the foremost authors of true crime today and "The Past..." demonstrates that his writing continues in the realm of the `must read'.

The Past is Never Dead is not just a true crime novel. It's a well-told story about the Seale trial, but the real story for me was how the people of the state are attempting to move beyond their bloody past. I was particularly interested in the story of how the town of Sumner orgainzed the Emmett Till Commission. Black and white members of the commission learned to work together for a common end - to raise funds to preserve the courthouse where the Till murder trial had taken place and to formally express their regret to Till's family. MacLean also wrote about the attitudes of ordinary citizens - both black and white - and their takes on the state's past and what they are concerned with today. Altogether, a facinating look at a state I knew virtually nothing about except for its stereotypes, and one I will not regard in the same way again. Definitely worth reading!

The past isn't always about honor and glory - often it's about shame and violence. It's hard to read about the awful things that happened in the "south" in the 60's during the civil rights conflict but since this is a vital part of our countries history we need to remember those troubled times. A time when the Ku klux klan fought civil rights by intimidations, beatings, burnings and grizzly murders. "The Past Is Never Dead" is an important book especially since the "Past" isn't dead and Mississippi seems to be taking most of the blame for the violence. Take another look at Mississippi as it seeks redemption. Read MacLean's book as he covers the James Ford Seale Trial and his look into what Mississippians are doing to redeem themselves and their State from old stereotypes.

Sit in on the drama of the trial of Mr. Seale for the burtal murders of Charles Moore and Henry Dee some 43 years after the fact. Jury selection begins May 4, 2007 both jury selection and the main act of the trial are fascinating. During breaks in the trial as well as before and after the main action you will want to follow MacLeans as he visits surrounding areas talking to blacks and whites to see what they think about the recent and current push to gain justice for the Murders of the 60's. The blacks and whites are talking to each trying to figure out a way to live together as the go down the "redeption road". Many know the Past won't just die. Readers will be interest to see what these people are doing to gain respect from the rest of the country.

Readers of "The Help" a current best selling novel need to read this non fiction work which will add to their understanding of the violence of the 60's.

I found it rather naive that one of the national reviewers called the Modern South "misunderstood". Not even the killers nor those who supported them have ever reflected themselves as 'misunderstood'.Many did not care what the rest of America, or the world, for that matter perceived Mississipi or other socially under-developed sections of the South were perceived then and now. Even in the thick of the obvious and open continual season of "denied" genocide and present obvious miscarriges of the modern manipulations of Southern Justice. There are no apologies indicated nor will there ever be. Even the author imagines no pretenses of the South or the unfolding of an over 40 year old case, thus the title, "The Past is Never Dead". A signifcant aspect of the South really doesn't care to completely washing its hands from the past or current misdeeds. This is true of what is seen and read all over in our media today. The justice of the South really hasn't made that many proactive strides (perhaps public broad strokes to quell the balanced half)when you truly research the predominance of those who are imprisoned across the board. The sleek and manipulative use of "forensics" in the system today is as effective as the magic bullet theory. People will see what they wish to see forever, particularly, if they are not the segment who are on the receiving end of their direct opposites. All that has changed is in the appearance of oppressiveness portrayed and polished to indicate and justify such sociopathic fears that originated and were rooted from the very start. This true story merely unfolds such events in this isolated , yet, patternistic incident. McLean's research and ability to arrange the time line of events and the statements are meticulously crafted to bring you right back to a medieval style of "justice" and how it is not so different today, except, in the packaging of which,again, innocently accepted as "misunderstanding and change". A fine read always from this author who not only is gifted at telling the facts, but also is well rounded in his delivery as a literary rarity of our times. Worth the investment based on the more positve reviews listed by the Amazon customers. Weigh your decision upon all of the reviews and make your decision here. If you read , "In Broad Daylight" by McLean, then, your experience will not disappoint the second time around.

I'm too young to remember much of the civil rights era but I've met several people recently who were very actively involved. Hearing their stories made me interested in other stories that were out there which led me to pick up this title at the library on of the blue. I had heard the story of Emmett Till but had never heard of Henry Dee or Charles Moore.

I thought the descriptions of why people did and did not want to be on the jury were incredibly interesting. Very eye opening look at how people, especially older people, view race. I will not go into detail but page 231 just sums it all up. So many of us have grown up unaware of the past that we have a hard time relating to those feelings. When I first picked up the book I thought it was going to be dealing with the 60's and 70's. I was really surprised to learn that so much took place in 2007. I don't remember hearing about this trial at all.

Overall, a very interesting book. I could have done without that last 20 or so pages but overall it's definately worth the reading time. I think it does a great job of linking the past to the present.

Shipping and delivery was prompt and in excellent condition. Book deviates from the titled subject, James Ford Seale and was more descriptive of the entire Mississippi tragedies