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Jimmie Lee & James: Two Lives, Two Deaths, and the Movement that Changed America
In the early months of 1965, the killings of two civil rights activists inspired the Selma-to-Montgomery marches, which became the driving force behind the passage of the Voting Rights Act. This is their story.
“Bloody Sunday”—March 7, 1965—was a pivotal moment in the civil rights struggle. The national outrage generated by scenes of Alabama state troopers attacking peaceful demonstrators fueled the drive toward the passage of the Voting Rights Acts later that year. But why were hundreds of activists marching from Selma to Montgomery that afternoon?
Days earlier, during the crackdown on another protest in nearby Marion, a state trooper, claiming self-defense, shot Jimmie Lee Jackson, a 26-year-old unarmed deacon and civil rights protester. Jackson’s subsequent death spurred local civil rights leaders to make the march to Montgomery; when that day also ended in violence, the call went out to activists across the nation to join in the next attempt. One of the many who came down was a minister from Boston named James Reeb. Shortly after his arrival, he was attacked in the street by racist vigilantes, eventually dying of his injuries. Lyndon Johnson evoked Reeb’s memory when he brought his voting rights legislation to Congress, and the national outcry over the brutal killings ensured its passage.
Most histories of the civil rights movement note these two deaths briefly, before moving on to the more famous moments. Jimmie Lee and James is the first book to give readers a deeper understanding of the events that galvanized an already-strong civil rights movement to one of its greatest successes, along with the herculean efforts to bring the killers of these two men to justice—a quest that would last more than four decades.
“Bloody Sunday”—March 7, 1965—was a pivotal moment in the civil rights struggle. The national outrage generated by scenes of Alabama state troopers attacking peaceful demonstrators fueled the drive toward the passage of the Voting Rights Acts later that year. But why were hundreds of activists marching from Selma to Montgomery that afternoon?
Days earlier, during the crackdown on another protest in nearby Marion, a state trooper, claiming self-defense, shot Jimmie Lee Jackson, a 26-year-old unarmed deacon and civil rights protester. Jackson’s subsequent death spurred local civil rights leaders to make the march to Montgomery; when that day also ended in violence, the call went out to activists across the nation to join in the next attempt. One of the many who came down was a minister from Boston named James Reeb. Shortly after his arrival, he was attacked in the street by racist vigilantes, eventually dying of his injuries. Lyndon Johnson evoked Reeb’s memory when he brought his voting rights legislation to Congress, and the national outcry over the brutal killings ensured its passage.
Most histories of the civil rights movement note these two deaths briefly, before moving on to the more famous moments. Jimmie Lee and James is the first book to give readers a deeper understanding of the events that galvanized an already-strong civil rights movement to one of its greatest successes, along with the herculean efforts to bring the killers of these two men to justice—a quest that would last more than four decades.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 26, 2015
This book examines the killing of civil rights activists Jimmie Lee Jackson and Rev. James Reeb and how they inspired the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama and led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The authors provide the reader a deeper understanding of the events that galvanized the Civil Rights Movement. Cohen and Fiffer detail how the killers of these two men finally were brought to justice after forty years.
The authors did meticulous research for this book. They traveled to Alabama to interview the individual’s involved and conducted interviews with the witnesses to the two murders. They also reviewed State and FBI records and documents as well as private papers, diaries, memoirs, oral histories and newspaper and magazine articles. Adar Cohen is an educator and researcher at DePaul University in Chicago and Steve Fiffer is an author.
The book is a well written page turner, about the struggles for equality and justice. I thought this might be a good review of the fight for Voting Rights after watching the Supreme Court begin to reverse the Voting Rights Act. After reading this book I want to watch the movie Selma. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Tom Perkins narrated this book.
The authors provide the reader a deeper understanding of the events that galvanized the Civil Rights Movement. Cohen and Fiffer detail how the killers of these two men finally were brought to justice after forty years.
The authors did meticulous research for this book. They traveled to Alabama to interview the individual’s involved and conducted interviews with the witnesses to the two murders. They also reviewed State and FBI records and documents as well as private papers, diaries, memoirs, oral histories and newspaper and magazine articles. Adar Cohen is an educator and researcher at DePaul University in Chicago and Steve Fiffer is an author.
The book is a well written page turner, about the struggles for equality and justice. I thought this might be a good review of the fight for Voting Rights after watching the Supreme Court begin to reverse the Voting Rights Act. After reading this book I want to watch the movie Selma. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Tom Perkins narrated this book.
November 28, 2021
a very well-researched and informative book, but the format and the fact that i had to do a bunch of work for my history class gave me a headache
June 30, 2025
This book cares a lot about procedure, both in how acts of civil disobedience were carried out during the civil rights movement and how the court cases of those murdered went. The former is interesting and provides relevant lessons for today, the latter is more of a case study in Jim Crow law.
The present tense style is also weird and jarring.
The present tense style is also weird and jarring.
January 7, 2019
Piece of History
It's nice to relive these historical events that get us reason to be proud give honorable recognition to our fallen soldiers
It's nice to relive these historical events that get us reason to be proud give honorable recognition to our fallen soldiers
June 26, 2019
LOVED this book. These men were important to the events of Selma, but the details of their lives and deaths are usually glossed over. It felt right to meet them and honor them.
March 2, 2020
Informative and thought provoking.
August 3, 2020
The story behind Selma, of the men (and a woman) who lost their lives in one of the most important moments of the civil rights movement.
May 23, 2015
A compelling account of the Civil Rights Movement
Steve Fiffer and Ardar Cohen provide a tense "you are there" narrative to the civil rights protests in Marion and Selma, Alabama that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. With diligent research and a sensitive touch, they portray the lives of Jimmie Lee Jackson and Rev. James Rabb, providing a human touch as well as underlining contemporary relevance.
Steve Fiffer and Ardar Cohen provide a tense "you are there" narrative to the civil rights protests in Marion and Selma, Alabama that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. With diligent research and a sensitive touch, they portray the lives of Jimmie Lee Jackson and Rev. James Rabb, providing a human touch as well as underlining contemporary relevance.
July 13, 2015
Essential reading for anyone concerned about the ongoing struggle for equality in America.
Covering what I was never taught in school -- the living, breathing, human perspectives from the Civil Rights movement -- the authors bring to life the raw, in-the-moment chaos, the voices demanding justice and the historic unity borne of passion and peace. Recommended for anyone interested in the history and humanity of the fight for equality. I wish I'd read this book in high school.
Covering what I was never taught in school -- the living, breathing, human perspectives from the Civil Rights movement -- the authors bring to life the raw, in-the-moment chaos, the voices demanding justice and the historic unity borne of passion and peace. Recommended for anyone interested in the history and humanity of the fight for equality. I wish I'd read this book in high school.
December 17, 2016
Enlightening
Extremely enlightening and timely especially considering today's political climate.
The detailed account sheds light on the complexities involved in changing a corrupt and unjust system.
Extremely enlightening and timely especially considering today's political climate.
The detailed account sheds light on the complexities involved in changing a corrupt and unjust system.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews