Marion Barry: The Politics of Race

by Jonathan I.Z. Agronsky

Describes Barry's political odyssey from rural Mississippi, through the civil rights movement and his tenure as mayor, to his arrest on multiple drug charges, and assesses the implications of his fall from grace.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1991

Reviews

[Ariya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've lived in DC for 6 years now (not by design; more by circumstance - I like the east coast but I'm more of New York City kind of person). Before coming here, I recalled the whole Marion Barry/Vista Hotel scandal that I watched on the nightly news as a teen. Since coming to DC as an adult, I've not been enamored of Marion Barry (he's currently a member of the city council). After finishing the book, I remain unenamored of him. What I liked about this book is that it was a comprehensive (yet easy to read) recap of the scandal, his life before the scandal, and the devastating issues that the District faced and still faces. Sadly, it also reminded me that the mistakes made back then (in the '80s and '90s) are still being made today. As a lawyer, for me the book was also a fascinating read for trial intrigue and technique. The epilogue reminds me that as far as we've come, we still have as far to go. Unfortunately, the book did not dispell my cynicism about politicians and hubris. The book did, however, give some fascinating insight to a city I've reluctantly called "home" for the past few years. I think this is a good read for anyone who is interested in reading about one of the most infamous periods in the District's recent history.