An Unseen Light: Black Struggles for Freedom in Memphis, Tennessee

Civil Rights and the Struggle for Black Equality in the Twentieth Century

by Aram Goudsouzian (Editor), Anthony C. Siracusa (Contributor), James Conway (Contributor)

In An Unseen Black Struggles for Freedom in Memphis, Tennessee , eminent and rising scholars present a multidisciplinary examination of African American activism in Memphis from the dawn of emancipation to the twenty-first century. Together, they investigate episodes such as the 1940 "Reign of Terror" when black Memphians experienced a prolonged campaign of harassment, mass arrests, and violence at the hands of police. They also examine topics including the relationship between the labor and civil rights movements, the fight for economic advancement in black communities, and the impact of music on the city's culture. Covering subjects as diverse as politics, sports, music, activism, and religion, An Unseen Light illuminates Memphis's place in the long history of the struggle for African American freedom and human dignity.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, African American

422 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 2018

Reviews

[Derek King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough collection of essays and historical context to illustrate how Memphis is built upon racial cruelty and disenfranchisement. Doc McKinney’s conclusion forces the reader to wrestle with the lack of progress in Memphis — specifically how a scenario could be true in the 1940s or 2010s. It’s a stark reminder that those who fight for Black People and advocate for rights, wages, and safety are treated as the most dangerous criminals — a harrowing parallel to Dr. King.

[Vickijean Hartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful.set of essays about the civil rights movement in Memphis. Quite a different story from that of Birmingham or the more rural south