Race, Law, and American Society: 1607-Present (Criminology and Justice Studies) [Paperback]

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 22, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0415952948 | ISBN-13: 978-0415952941 | Edition: New edition

In Race, Law, and American Society: 1607 to Present Gloria Browne-Marshall traces the history of racial discrimination in American law from colonial times to the present, analyzing the key court cases that established America’s racial system and showing their impact on American society. Throughout, she places advocates for freedom and equality at the center, moving from their struggle for physical freedom in the slavery era to more recent battles for equal rights and economic equality. From the colonial period to the present, this book examines education, property ownership, voting rights, criminal justice, and the military as well as internationalism and civil liberties. Race, Law, and American Society is highly accessible and thorough in its depiction of the role race has played, with the sanction of the U.S. Supreme Court, in shaping virtually every major American social institution.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I hope educators at every level are attracted to this book as a teaching tool."

—Derrick Bell, from the foreword

"Gloria Browne-Marshall's Race, Law, and American Society builds on the great vision of the late great Barbara Jordan: How will America become as great as its promise?  Black courageous citizens have been at the forefront of this movement.  This book is a gem." 

—Cornel West, Class of 1943 University Professor of Religion, Princeton University

"Brilliantly researched, Gloria Browne-Marshall's history of Race, Law, and American Society is bold and challenging; dramatic, comprehensive, and galvanizing.  Everyone concerned about justice and dignity, civility, the law and human survival will want to read, and assign this book."

—Blanche Wiesen Cook, University Distinguished Professor, John Jay College & The Graduate Center, CUNY and author of Eleanor Roosevelt

"In this sophisticated survey of Supreme Court decisions, Gloria Browne-Marshall shows African Americans working to make ‘liberty and justice’ more than rhetoric—by pressing judges to expand freedom’s scope from that for white men to the majority. All Americans owe Black Americans much for making the United States ever more democratic and justice-oriented."

—Joe R. Feagin, Ella C. McFadden Professor of Liberal Arts, Texas A & M University

About the Author

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, an Assistant Professor of Constitutional Law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, litigated Civil Rights and Public Law cases for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., Community Legal Services, and Southern Poverty Law Center, prior to academe. She is the author of The Constitution: Major Cases and Conflicts, founder of The Law and Policy Group, Inc., and a noted playwright.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; New edition edition (March 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415952948
• ISBN-13: 978-0415952941
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Law > Constitutional Law > Civil Rights

More About the Author

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall received the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Justice Award for her work with civil rights and women's justice issues. Her forthcoming book is titled "Black Women: Salem Witch Trials to Civil Rights Activists - A Legal History."

A former civil rights attorney, Browne-Marshall is an Associate Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) teaching Constitutional Law, Race and the Law, and Evidence. She is a member of the Gender Studies faculty of John Jay College as well as a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Active nationally and internationally, Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is a member of the United Nations Association of NY, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the Women's City Club.

A free-lance journalist and an award-winning playwright, her most recent play is titled "Diversity" and examines marriage choices. Her other plays include the full-length drama on Alzheimer's disease "My Juilliard," one act plays "Jeanine" and "Waverly Place" as well as the full-length murder mystery "Killing Me Softly." She is a member of the Dramatist Guild, Mystery Writers of America, National Association of Black Journalists, and PEN American Center.

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is the Founder/Director of The Law and Policy Group, Inc., a nonprofit organization. The Law and Policy Group, Inc. is a think tank for the community which produces the "Report on the Status of Black Women and Girls(R)," the only annual national report on the state of Black females in America.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, April 1, 2007

By 

Zora "reader 1" (IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Race, Law, and American Society: 1607-Present (Criminology and Justice Studies) (Paperback)

This book is a brilliant must-read. I believe teachers, public policy analysts, social workers, judges, Americans generally, would better understand the race conflicts of today by reading this book. I admire the fact that Browne-Marshall takes the major social justice and racialized issues of today. The cases examined throughout this book provide concrete examples of how America's past racism has caused present day condition. She reconnects the history of race discrimination with America's racialized situation currently in a manner that is clear and personable.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Story from the heart about race in America, May 18, 2007

By 

Philip C. Aka (Chicago, IL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Race, Law, and American Society: 1607-Present (Criminology and Justice Studies) (Paperback)

This book contributes substantially to the scholarship on race and law in America. With this story from the heart about race and law, Professor Browne-Marshall demonstrates beyond every shadow of doubt that candidness on race matters and solid scholarship are two qualities that can go together.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book!, February 29, 2008

By 

Peter Moskos "Cop in the Hood" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Race, Law, and American Society: 1607-Present (Criminology and Justice Studies) (Paperback)

Race, Law, and American Society shows that progress doesn't 'just happen.' It takes the courage of men and women. Gloria Browne-Marshall brings these people to life and shows how far we've come, how difficult it's been, and how the legal system has been key to four centuries of social justice and injustice. Very readable!