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Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four
This book will take you through my incredible four year quest for justice for The Groveland Four and teach you how to pursue your own causes, whatever they may be. It is a primer for positive action, a journey through Florida's past as well as its future. Some of the things you will learn: everything takes more time than you think, nothing ever goes according to plan, help can come from unexpected places, time is on your side, everyone is connected to everyone else, you can reach your tipping point for success and not even realize it, your goals can change along the way, and flexibility is key. Let's get started, shall we?
***Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to establish "The Charles Greenlee Memorial Scholarship" to benefit a child with an incarcerated parent.
***Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to establish "The Charles Greenlee Memorial Scholarship" to benefit a child with an incarcerated parent.
116 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2021
11 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
October 28, 2019
Most of my reading tends to be fiction. On the rare occasion, I'll pick up a non-fiction book if the material is of interest. Today, I read Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four, as a recommendation from someone I know and trust. I'm glad I did, as it was eye-opening and heartwarming to know things can sometimes work out better than you expect.
Nearly 75 years ago, four African American men were accused of raping a Caucasian woman in Central Florida. Due to racial tension and other awful practices, some of these men were hunted down, maimed and killed without a trial or chance to clear their name. Over the years, many people tried to get them pardoned, mostly because it was clear they hadn't actually committed any crimes. In 2015, a college student named Josh posted a change.org petition and changed the outcome. Now, he's written a book on the entire experience.
This book isn't your typical novel in terms of telling the story of what happened in the past. Instead, the author, Josh Venkataraman, chronicles his journey to try to right a wrong. Through a humorous and honest tone, he shares how he felt the need to make a difference, reached out to people, was denied and pushed down many times, and finding a stroke of luck and persistence paid off in the end. Step by step, he shares his success story, covering the highs and the lows. As a readers, I was right there with him nearly clapping with each win, scowling with each setback.
It's an easy read, at least in terms of his storytelling voice and style. The material, on the other hand, is difficult, as it shines light on the frailties or insanity of our country's past (and often present too). I admire the author for what he's accomplished. As touching and educational as the story was, this is a review about his book, not the actual event. That said, I clearly can say it is told with the perfect balance of facts, theory, personal accounts, pictures, timelines, and heart.
Personally, I would've loved a bit more detail on the actual event (e.g. when / where it happened, etc.) but to the author's point, that's covered in the book written by another author which inspired Josh to go forward with this petition and journey. I think we'll see more good things to come from Mr. Venkataraman, and I look forward to watching his career as a social justice champion and author develop.
Nearly 75 years ago, four African American men were accused of raping a Caucasian woman in Central Florida. Due to racial tension and other awful practices, some of these men were hunted down, maimed and killed without a trial or chance to clear their name. Over the years, many people tried to get them pardoned, mostly because it was clear they hadn't actually committed any crimes. In 2015, a college student named Josh posted a change.org petition and changed the outcome. Now, he's written a book on the entire experience.
This book isn't your typical novel in terms of telling the story of what happened in the past. Instead, the author, Josh Venkataraman, chronicles his journey to try to right a wrong. Through a humorous and honest tone, he shares how he felt the need to make a difference, reached out to people, was denied and pushed down many times, and finding a stroke of luck and persistence paid off in the end. Step by step, he shares his success story, covering the highs and the lows. As a readers, I was right there with him nearly clapping with each win, scowling with each setback.
It's an easy read, at least in terms of his storytelling voice and style. The material, on the other hand, is difficult, as it shines light on the frailties or insanity of our country's past (and often present too). I admire the author for what he's accomplished. As touching and educational as the story was, this is a review about his book, not the actual event. That said, I clearly can say it is told with the perfect balance of facts, theory, personal accounts, pictures, timelines, and heart.
Personally, I would've loved a bit more detail on the actual event (e.g. when / where it happened, etc.) but to the author's point, that's covered in the book written by another author which inspired Josh to go forward with this petition and journey. I think we'll see more good things to come from Mr. Venkataraman, and I look forward to watching his career as a social justice champion and author develop.
December 20, 2019
3.5★
“The fact that these guys were my age meant it could have been me. They were so young and they all had alibis, but it didn't matter.”
A young university student read a book, gets stirred up, and shakes his fist in self-righteous anger. Hasn’t everyone been outraged over an injustice at one time or another? The difference here is, the book by Gilbert King won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction.
That means the story should be widely known and people should be irate, right?
The book was Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America about a case from 1949 where four black youths were found guilty of raping a 17-year-old white girl.
But they all had alibis, right?
Surely that means it couldn't have been them, right?
One would think so, and when one is young and not cynical and jaded (as many of us older folk are), one might even try to make those things that should be right, right. The author started a Change.org protest and drummed up a bit of support. He learned his first lesson.
“You know how it takes money to make money? It also takes publicity to get publicity.”
He found support from Gilbert King and others to move the issue along. The book reads like investigative journalism which I would expect to find as a series of articles in a major newspaper, but this has got all the footnotes and references that you probably wouldn’t find there. This makes it possible for you to follow his diary and do it yourself.
I recently read Colson Whitehead’s July 2019 book, The Nickel Boys, which is a fictional account of the school Whitehead called the Nickel Academy referred to in the following paragraph as the Florida School for Boys. This is about when Venkataraman's Groveland Four case was being discussed in the Florida State House of Representatives.
“The House members spent a lot of time discussing a horrific part of Florida history that I had never heard of: The Florida School for Boys, also known as the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, a reform school operated by the state in the town of Marianna from January 1900 through June 2011. For a time, it was the largest juvenile reform institution in the country.”
Florida was not a good place for a black person to be in 1949, with KKK members and sympathisers everywhere. It can be hard for a twenty-something-year-old today to believe how free-wheeling vigilante justice was 65 years ago. Torture, murders, lynchings - all by “upstanding citizens” under the cover of white sheets and by the light of burning crosses.
If you enjoy a success story of the good guys winning, you’ll admire the author’s struggles to fit all the pieces into place. He had some luck, some inspiration, and a lot of encouragement and support from writers, publicity people, politicians, and legal people, not to mention the families of the victims. And he had dogged determination. Well done!
I do recommend reading The Nickel Boys to get a real sense of the history of the time and what those four boys would have been up against.
Thanks to Josh and mother Barbara for the preview copy of an interesting read. What an exceptional victory!
(If you're interested, this is my review of The Nickel Boys
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... )
“The fact that these guys were my age meant it could have been me. They were so young and they all had alibis, but it didn't matter.”
A young university student read a book, gets stirred up, and shakes his fist in self-righteous anger. Hasn’t everyone been outraged over an injustice at one time or another? The difference here is, the book by Gilbert King won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction.
That means the story should be widely known and people should be irate, right?
The book was Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America about a case from 1949 where four black youths were found guilty of raping a 17-year-old white girl.
But they all had alibis, right?
Surely that means it couldn't have been them, right?
One would think so, and when one is young and not cynical and jaded (as many of us older folk are), one might even try to make those things that should be right, right. The author started a Change.org protest and drummed up a bit of support. He learned his first lesson.
“You know how it takes money to make money? It also takes publicity to get publicity.”
He found support from Gilbert King and others to move the issue along. The book reads like investigative journalism which I would expect to find as a series of articles in a major newspaper, but this has got all the footnotes and references that you probably wouldn’t find there. This makes it possible for you to follow his diary and do it yourself.
I recently read Colson Whitehead’s July 2019 book, The Nickel Boys, which is a fictional account of the school Whitehead called the Nickel Academy referred to in the following paragraph as the Florida School for Boys. This is about when Venkataraman's Groveland Four case was being discussed in the Florida State House of Representatives.
“The House members spent a lot of time discussing a horrific part of Florida history that I had never heard of: The Florida School for Boys, also known as the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, a reform school operated by the state in the town of Marianna from January 1900 through June 2011. For a time, it was the largest juvenile reform institution in the country.”
Florida was not a good place for a black person to be in 1949, with KKK members and sympathisers everywhere. It can be hard for a twenty-something-year-old today to believe how free-wheeling vigilante justice was 65 years ago. Torture, murders, lynchings - all by “upstanding citizens” under the cover of white sheets and by the light of burning crosses.
If you enjoy a success story of the good guys winning, you’ll admire the author’s struggles to fit all the pieces into place. He had some luck, some inspiration, and a lot of encouragement and support from writers, publicity people, politicians, and legal people, not to mention the families of the victims. And he had dogged determination. Well done!
I do recommend reading The Nickel Boys to get a real sense of the history of the time and what those four boys would have been up against.
Thanks to Josh and mother Barbara for the preview copy of an interesting read. What an exceptional victory!
(If you're interested, this is my review of The Nickel Boys
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... )
January 28, 2020
Josh Venkataraman was a college student in 2015 at the University of Florida when he read a book about four young African American, men who were wrongly convicted of raping a 17 year old white woman in Groveland, Florida in 1949. With Jim Crow laws and the KKK at the height of its powers they were beaten until three of them confessed even though they all has alibis and there was absolutely no evidence. The book, Devil in the Grove won it's author Gilbert King a Pulitzer prize and for Josh became the spark that lit his journey into political activism in his quest for justice for the Groveland Four.
I really enjoyed Josh's account of how he contacted Gilbert King and the daughter of one of the men and started the ball rolling with a petition on change.org and some publicity in local papers. With the stars in alignment this eventually led to interviews, national publicity and a panel event and with Josh's activism eventually snowballed into posthumous apologies from Groveland Mayor and County followed by one from the Florida House of Representatives and in 2019 a full pardon.
Josh writes with passion for his quest to overturn this injustice in an easy, informative, journalistic style taking us along on his journey. It's hard not to be infected by his enthusiasm and to be impressed with his ability act as the catalyst that finally brought about justice for four young men after 70 years, finally bringing peace to their families. I would have liked to have been told a little more about the original case and trials as I was reading this, but it's easy to find out these details (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grovela...) and Devil in the Grove has now been added to my reading list.
I really enjoyed Josh's account of how he contacted Gilbert King and the daughter of one of the men and started the ball rolling with a petition on change.org and some publicity in local papers. With the stars in alignment this eventually led to interviews, national publicity and a panel event and with Josh's activism eventually snowballed into posthumous apologies from Groveland Mayor and County followed by one from the Florida House of Representatives and in 2019 a full pardon.
Josh writes with passion for his quest to overturn this injustice in an easy, informative, journalistic style taking us along on his journey. It's hard not to be infected by his enthusiasm and to be impressed with his ability act as the catalyst that finally brought about justice for four young men after 70 years, finally bringing peace to their families. I would have liked to have been told a little more about the original case and trials as I was reading this, but it's easy to find out these details (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grovela...) and Devil in the Grove has now been added to my reading list.
December 21, 2019
It's odd that authors can review their own books and I didn't intend to but now I can't seem to remove it, so I'll just say I give the book a 5 because I'm proud of all the work Josh did to right this egregious wrong. He persevered and he prevailed.
November 30, 2023
The courage and fortitude of the author was a factor in awarding five stars for Josh Venkataraman's awe-inspiring account of his fight for the posthumous pardon of four young black men caught up in the racial injustice of post-war Florida.
Shortly after reading Gilbert King's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America Venkataraman passed a sign for the town of "Groveland" while driving through the Central Florida countryside. Finding himself right there where the drama actually took place inspired the University of Florida student to find a way to help right the wrongs inflicted by a racist society on four innocent people. He decided that he would work to see that the "Groveland Four" were officially exonerated by the state of Florida.
Lake County has a history of violent racism. The citrus industry called the shots and local law enforcement mostly served as enforcers to keep the largely African-American workforce in line.
The Most Dangerous Place to Be Black
For Florida, being at the center of a maelstrom about race and justice for black Americans is nothing new. Especially if you ever had a run-in with Lake County’s brutal seven-term sheriff, Willis McCall.
Gilbert King
Updated:
Jun 14, 2017
Original:
Aug 7, 2013
There was no more dangerous place for blacks than Florida during Jim Crow. In their comprehensive work, A Festival of Violence: An Analysis of Southern Lynchings, 1882-1930, Stewart E. Tolnay and E.M. Beck show that blacks in Florida had a much greater chance of being lynched than in any other state in the South, with 79.8 lynchings per 100,000 blacks. (Mississippi was a distant second with 52.8.)
https://psmag.com/social-justice/the-...
The 1967 film "Cool Hand Luke" is based on a book written by a former prison inmate, Donn Pearce, about life on a 1940s-era chain gang. Pearce made a cameo appearance in the movie as an ex-con named Sailor. Pearce served most of his sentence at the Tavares Road Prison in Tavares, Fla. The movie’s producers sent a crew to Tavares to take pictures and measurements.
This is a still frame from a “Cool Hand Luke” scene showing the fictional Road Prison 36, which was modeled after a Florida camp in Tavares.
The Groveland Four were accused of raping 17-year-old Norma Padgett and assaulting her husband one night in July 1949 in Lake County, Florida. Sheriff Willis McCall got arrest warrants for the four even though witnesses placed them elsewhere at the time of the alleged crimes. One of the men, Ernest Thomas, tried to flee but was shot dead by a posse. The remaining three suspects, Charles Greenlee (then a minor at age 16), Samuel Shepherd, and Walter Irvin, were arrested to stand trial for assault and rape.
Despite their alibis, an all-white jury in Tavares found the three guilty. Irvin and Shepherd (both WWII veterans) were sentenced to death, while Greenlee was sentenced to life because of his age. All three were remanded to Raiford State Prison. The 2 death sentences were appealed with the assistance of Harry T. Moore, who was President of the NAACP Florida Chapter. The case ultimately rose to the Supreme Court where future Justice Thurgood Marshall argued for the defense and won a retrial.
In November 1951, while transporting Shepherd and Irving from Raiford to Tavares for their new trial, Sheriff Willis McCall shot the two. McCall claimed that the pair had overpowered him in an escape attempt - even though they were handcuffed together. Sam Shepherd was killed on the spot. Walter Irvin was shot twice in the chest and played dead. Sheriff's deputy Yates saw him move and shot him again in the neck, but Irvin survived. He later testified that he could hear the deputies talking and bragging on their radio that they had taken care of their prisoners.
In his second trial, an all-white jury again sentenced Irvin to death. That sentence was later commuted to life. Greenlee was paroled in 1962, and moved to Tennessee where he died in 2012. Irvin was paroled in 1968. In 1969 he visited Lake County, where he was found dead in his car, officially of natural causes.
In working toward their exoneration, Venkataraman first sought out relatives of the Groveland Boys. He found his efforts poorly received and met with indifference. They had all been down that road too many times. After all attempts for "official state apologies" to the families of the convicted and deceased had failed in the Florida Legislature, hoping for pardons was what, apple pie in the sky? After several trials and failures, Governor Rick Scott finally got the State to agree to an Apology for The Groveland Boys - which many saw as too little too late.
A dauntless Venkataraman eventually won over most of the remaining relatives and especially Carol Greenlee, daughter of Charles, the youngest of the 4 Groveland Boys. With Carol's permission, Josh started a petition to pardon and exonerate the four. Josh eventually obtained 9,000 signatures on his petition from as far away as Australia. There were many setbacks, but he persevered.
On January 11, 2019, the Florida Board of Executive Clemency, with newly seated Republican Governor Ron DeSantis at the helm, the Florida legislature agreed unanimously to pardon the Groveland Four. Though short of exoneration, a measure of justice had been won.
Hats off to Josh Venkataraman for traveling this long and rocky road and crossing the finish line.
I would like to thank Barbara Venkataraman for a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for a fair review. "Accidental Activist" was cleverly written with a satisfying ending. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to establish "The Charles Greenlee Memorial Scholarship" to benefit a child with an incarcerated parent.
Shortly after reading Gilbert King's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America Venkataraman passed a sign for the town of "Groveland" while driving through the Central Florida countryside. Finding himself right there where the drama actually took place inspired the University of Florida student to find a way to help right the wrongs inflicted by a racist society on four innocent people. He decided that he would work to see that the "Groveland Four" were officially exonerated by the state of Florida.
Lake County has a history of violent racism. The citrus industry called the shots and local law enforcement mostly served as enforcers to keep the largely African-American workforce in line.
The Most Dangerous Place to Be Black
For Florida, being at the center of a maelstrom about race and justice for black Americans is nothing new. Especially if you ever had a run-in with Lake County’s brutal seven-term sheriff, Willis McCall.
Gilbert King
Updated:
Jun 14, 2017
Original:
Aug 7, 2013
There was no more dangerous place for blacks than Florida during Jim Crow. In their comprehensive work, A Festival of Violence: An Analysis of Southern Lynchings, 1882-1930, Stewart E. Tolnay and E.M. Beck show that blacks in Florida had a much greater chance of being lynched than in any other state in the South, with 79.8 lynchings per 100,000 blacks. (Mississippi was a distant second with 52.8.)
https://psmag.com/social-justice/the-...
The 1967 film "Cool Hand Luke" is based on a book written by a former prison inmate, Donn Pearce, about life on a 1940s-era chain gang. Pearce made a cameo appearance in the movie as an ex-con named Sailor. Pearce served most of his sentence at the Tavares Road Prison in Tavares, Fla. The movie’s producers sent a crew to Tavares to take pictures and measurements.
This is a still frame from a “Cool Hand Luke” scene showing the fictional Road Prison 36, which was modeled after a Florida camp in Tavares.
The Groveland Four were accused of raping 17-year-old Norma Padgett and assaulting her husband one night in July 1949 in Lake County, Florida. Sheriff Willis McCall got arrest warrants for the four even though witnesses placed them elsewhere at the time of the alleged crimes. One of the men, Ernest Thomas, tried to flee but was shot dead by a posse. The remaining three suspects, Charles Greenlee (then a minor at age 16), Samuel Shepherd, and Walter Irvin, were arrested to stand trial for assault and rape.
Despite their alibis, an all-white jury in Tavares found the three guilty. Irvin and Shepherd (both WWII veterans) were sentenced to death, while Greenlee was sentenced to life because of his age. All three were remanded to Raiford State Prison. The 2 death sentences were appealed with the assistance of Harry T. Moore, who was President of the NAACP Florida Chapter. The case ultimately rose to the Supreme Court where future Justice Thurgood Marshall argued for the defense and won a retrial.
In November 1951, while transporting Shepherd and Irving from Raiford to Tavares for their new trial, Sheriff Willis McCall shot the two. McCall claimed that the pair had overpowered him in an escape attempt - even though they were handcuffed together. Sam Shepherd was killed on the spot. Walter Irvin was shot twice in the chest and played dead. Sheriff's deputy Yates saw him move and shot him again in the neck, but Irvin survived. He later testified that he could hear the deputies talking and bragging on their radio that they had taken care of their prisoners.
In his second trial, an all-white jury again sentenced Irvin to death. That sentence was later commuted to life. Greenlee was paroled in 1962, and moved to Tennessee where he died in 2012. Irvin was paroled in 1968. In 1969 he visited Lake County, where he was found dead in his car, officially of natural causes.
In working toward their exoneration, Venkataraman first sought out relatives of the Groveland Boys. He found his efforts poorly received and met with indifference. They had all been down that road too many times. After all attempts for "official state apologies" to the families of the convicted and deceased had failed in the Florida Legislature, hoping for pardons was what, apple pie in the sky? After several trials and failures, Governor Rick Scott finally got the State to agree to an Apology for The Groveland Boys - which many saw as too little too late.
A dauntless Venkataraman eventually won over most of the remaining relatives and especially Carol Greenlee, daughter of Charles, the youngest of the 4 Groveland Boys. With Carol's permission, Josh started a petition to pardon and exonerate the four. Josh eventually obtained 9,000 signatures on his petition from as far away as Australia. There were many setbacks, but he persevered.
On January 11, 2019, the Florida Board of Executive Clemency, with newly seated Republican Governor Ron DeSantis at the helm, the Florida legislature agreed unanimously to pardon the Groveland Four. Though short of exoneration, a measure of justice had been won.
Hats off to Josh Venkataraman for traveling this long and rocky road and crossing the finish line.
I would like to thank Barbara Venkataraman for a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for a fair review. "Accidental Activist" was cleverly written with a satisfying ending. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to establish "The Charles Greenlee Memorial Scholarship" to benefit a child with an incarcerated parent.
December 17, 2019
Josh Venkataraman was a student at the University of Florida when he read Gilbert King's true crime book: Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America in a history class. The Groveland Four were four young black men in Groveland, FL, accused of rape in the late 1940s. Their treatment by law enforcement, the legal system and the community was outrageous and they were denied fair trials and any sort of justice. Two died during the process and two served long prison terms.
Josh was so moved by their story that he decided to start a petition on change.org to try to get these men exonerated posthumously. This book maps out the four-year course Josh and family members of the accused followed to find justice for these men 70 years later. It is a primer for activism for those with a passion for a cause and shows what can be accomplished by a dedicated and determined few.
Included in Josh's book is a section about The Florida School for Boys, operated by the state of Florida in the panhandle town of Marianna from January 1, 1900, to June 30, 2011, where many boys were abused, tortured and killed, buried in unmarked graves. Apologies from the state of Florida were being sought. Colson Whitehead's new book The Nickel Boys is based on the facts that have been learned about the horrible conditions the boys endured at that school.
The Innocence Project at several universities is also mentioned and I was reminded of one case taken on with all the best intentions but that went awry at Northwestern University: Justice Perverted: How The Innocence Project at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism Sent an Innocent Man to Prison. From my review of that book: 'In 1999, largely through the efforts of the Innocence Project at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism led by Professor David Protess, an innocent man named Alstory Simon was wrongfully imprisoned for a double murder he did not commit and spent more than fifteen years in jail before being exonerated in 2014.' An interesting read too of another side of injustice.
Congratulations to Josh and all involved in this effort for their fine work and perseverance. To learn more details about the original Groveland Four case, you'd probably want to read Gilbert King's book and others written on the topic.
Many thanks to Josh's mother, author Barbara Venkataraman, for providing me with a gift copy of this book to read and review. You have raised a very fine young man, Barbara.
Josh was so moved by their story that he decided to start a petition on change.org to try to get these men exonerated posthumously. This book maps out the four-year course Josh and family members of the accused followed to find justice for these men 70 years later. It is a primer for activism for those with a passion for a cause and shows what can be accomplished by a dedicated and determined few.
Included in Josh's book is a section about The Florida School for Boys, operated by the state of Florida in the panhandle town of Marianna from January 1, 1900, to June 30, 2011, where many boys were abused, tortured and killed, buried in unmarked graves. Apologies from the state of Florida were being sought. Colson Whitehead's new book The Nickel Boys is based on the facts that have been learned about the horrible conditions the boys endured at that school.
The Innocence Project at several universities is also mentioned and I was reminded of one case taken on with all the best intentions but that went awry at Northwestern University: Justice Perverted: How The Innocence Project at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism Sent an Innocent Man to Prison. From my review of that book: 'In 1999, largely through the efforts of the Innocence Project at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism led by Professor David Protess, an innocent man named Alstory Simon was wrongfully imprisoned for a double murder he did not commit and spent more than fifteen years in jail before being exonerated in 2014.' An interesting read too of another side of injustice.
Congratulations to Josh and all involved in this effort for their fine work and perseverance. To learn more details about the original Groveland Four case, you'd probably want to read Gilbert King's book and others written on the topic.
Many thanks to Josh's mother, author Barbara Venkataraman, for providing me with a gift copy of this book to read and review. You have raised a very fine young man, Barbara.
December 8, 2019
Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four, was an inspiring tale of how one person can make a difference. Josh Venkataraman was a student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Josh, a Florida native, had grown up in southeastern Florida in Fort Lauderdale. Having recently read a book about Justice Thurgood Marshall and his representation of the Groveland Four, while returning to campus one weekend, he noticed the sign "Groveland." It was this connection that inspired this young man to investigate further and reach out to the families of the Groveland Four and its one survivor in his quest for justice for these wrongly accused men, boys at the time of their victimization in the mid-1940's in the heart of the "Jim Crow" south where the Ku Klux Klan reigned. I was amazed that it only took him four years to accomplish his goal of exonerating these four men, an accomplishment beyond belief.
It should be noted that the proceeds from this book will be used to establish "The Charles Greenlee Scholarship" to benefit children with incarcerated parents. Josh, an amazing accomplishment; you are my hero!
Thank you to co-author Barbara Venkataraman, and mother of Josh, who provided me a copy of the book for an honest review. Thank you.
It should be noted that the proceeds from this book will be used to establish "The Charles Greenlee Scholarship" to benefit children with incarcerated parents. Josh, an amazing accomplishment; you are my hero!
Thank you to co-author Barbara Venkataraman, and mother of Josh, who provided me a copy of the book for an honest review. Thank you.
December 6, 2019
*received from one of the authors and voluntarily reviewed*
I had never heard of the Groveland Four until this book. Of course, I don't live in Florida or even very near Florida, so maybe that isn't too surprising. Actually, there are a lot of things I've never heard of, especially since I cut the cable cord and no longer have CNN. But that's not really relevant here.
The Groveland Four were four young black men falsely accused of rape by a white girl in 1949. Two were convicted and imprisoned, two were murdered before they could be convicted – one by a lynch mob, one by a crooked sheriff. After reading “Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America”, by Gilbert King, for a class, Josh Venkataraman was inspired to step up and try to help seek justice for the Groveland Four and their families. After reading his book, I admire Josh very much!
The book is only about 80 pages long (at least the PDF version I read anyway), but covers a lot of ground. Josh takes us step by step through the ever changing process of setting up a petition, getting signatures, gaining support, all in hopes of clearing the names of the four boys and providing their families with some peace of mind. Along the way he inspired others to join the fight. This was an interesting read, and while justice eventually prevails, it still saddens me that this incident in Florida's history happened in the first place. And unfortunately I'm sure there were similar incidents happening all around the country, where justice did not and never will prevail.
The writing flows easily, and I loved the friendship that developed between Josh and Carol, the daughter of one of the four. She was just a baby when her sixteen-year-old father was incarcerated, though she didn't find out what actually happened until much later in life. But how horrible to have to grow up with your father taken away, and then learning he never should have been taken away in the first place.
An inspiring and ultimately heartwarming account of what can be accomplished with a lot of hard work and perseverance.
I had never heard of the Groveland Four until this book. Of course, I don't live in Florida or even very near Florida, so maybe that isn't too surprising. Actually, there are a lot of things I've never heard of, especially since I cut the cable cord and no longer have CNN. But that's not really relevant here.
The Groveland Four were four young black men falsely accused of rape by a white girl in 1949. Two were convicted and imprisoned, two were murdered before they could be convicted – one by a lynch mob, one by a crooked sheriff. After reading “Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America”, by Gilbert King, for a class, Josh Venkataraman was inspired to step up and try to help seek justice for the Groveland Four and their families. After reading his book, I admire Josh very much!
The book is only about 80 pages long (at least the PDF version I read anyway), but covers a lot of ground. Josh takes us step by step through the ever changing process of setting up a petition, getting signatures, gaining support, all in hopes of clearing the names of the four boys and providing their families with some peace of mind. Along the way he inspired others to join the fight. This was an interesting read, and while justice eventually prevails, it still saddens me that this incident in Florida's history happened in the first place. And unfortunately I'm sure there were similar incidents happening all around the country, where justice did not and never will prevail.
The writing flows easily, and I loved the friendship that developed between Josh and Carol, the daughter of one of the four. She was just a baby when her sixteen-year-old father was incarcerated, though she didn't find out what actually happened until much later in life. But how horrible to have to grow up with your father taken away, and then learning he never should have been taken away in the first place.
An inspiring and ultimately heartwarming account of what can be accomplished with a lot of hard work and perseverance.
December 20, 2019
Thank you to the coauthor for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is quite an inspirational story to right a decades old wrong. I had never heard of the Groveland Four but then again, I don't live anywhere near Florida. I greatly admire Josh in his quest to cut through the bureaucracy and politics to help the family members of the Groveland Four finally obtain justice. Sadly, this is just one of many stories of racial and social justice issues. I also admire the young kids who got behind this cause and I bet they felt so empowered.
This is quite an inspirational story to right a decades old wrong. I had never heard of the Groveland Four but then again, I don't live anywhere near Florida. I greatly admire Josh in his quest to cut through the bureaucracy and politics to help the family members of the Groveland Four finally obtain justice. Sadly, this is just one of many stories of racial and social justice issues. I also admire the young kids who got behind this cause and I bet they felt so empowered.
December 11, 2019
After reading Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King, I was left with an empty feeling like the story was left incomplete with all four lives ruined and ended. Due to the well known Jim Crow laws put in place by southern democrats to keep the black population down, when a white girl claimed she was raped by four black boys, law enforcement went about finding four black boys to lock up and put on trial; they were all convicted and sentenced to death with no physical evidence of their involvement or that there had even been a rape. Three of them died while all of their cases were on appeal (two were shot by the sheriff while "trying to escape") and the fourth one had his sentence reduced to life in prison. He eventually died in prison. While accusations of racism are thrown around today without hesitation at anyone that some people disagree with, that tends to cheapen real racism as detailed in Devil in the Grove and other similar books like Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman's Firsthand account of WWII where racism is front and center against some of our bravest airmen when they returned from the war.
This is a long-winded warm up to my being offered a courtesy copy of Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four by Josh Venkataraman. I read a lot of books and many on this topic; I was not asked to write a positive review. What I found as I began this book was a well researched and well written account of the author's quest to finally bring justice to the Groveland Four. While it sounds like what we call a no brainer that everyone could get behind, it wasn't that simple. It involved organizing community and political support, setting up on line petitions, getting the word out, and overcoming resistance. The girl at the center of this travesty was now an older lady who had never recanted her accusations. Some politicians were susceptible to pressure from some of their constituents who still harbored residual racism and, let's face it, all politicians from any party like the good life and want to get re-elected. Racism is not gone, but the in-your-face racism of the 1950's and 60's is under control. Accidental Activist brings, if not full justice, closure for lives tragically cut short due in large part by the author's efforts and determination. I applaud him for a job well done.
Tuskegee Airman Harry T. Stewart returned from WWII as a decorated and experienced combat pilot but could not get a job as an airline pilot. He instead took whatever menial jobs he could find because of public attitudes about race and fear by companies of offending their customers if they hired blacks. That type of racism has, thankfully, become mostly a thing of the past. I tend to be conservative and, while I recognize that racism still exists, I don't see it in every comment or disagreement. I am able to recognize that we really have come a long way with respect to racism. Unfortunately, not everyone sees things that way. It would be good for them to read books like Devil in the Grove, Soaring to Glory, Amazing Grace, Intellectuals and Race, Accidental Activist and others to learn what real racism was like for real people who lived through it.
This is a long-winded warm up to my being offered a courtesy copy of Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four by Josh Venkataraman. I read a lot of books and many on this topic; I was not asked to write a positive review. What I found as I began this book was a well researched and well written account of the author's quest to finally bring justice to the Groveland Four. While it sounds like what we call a no brainer that everyone could get behind, it wasn't that simple. It involved organizing community and political support, setting up on line petitions, getting the word out, and overcoming resistance. The girl at the center of this travesty was now an older lady who had never recanted her accusations. Some politicians were susceptible to pressure from some of their constituents who still harbored residual racism and, let's face it, all politicians from any party like the good life and want to get re-elected. Racism is not gone, but the in-your-face racism of the 1950's and 60's is under control. Accidental Activist brings, if not full justice, closure for lives tragically cut short due in large part by the author's efforts and determination. I applaud him for a job well done.
Tuskegee Airman Harry T. Stewart returned from WWII as a decorated and experienced combat pilot but could not get a job as an airline pilot. He instead took whatever menial jobs he could find because of public attitudes about race and fear by companies of offending their customers if they hired blacks. That type of racism has, thankfully, become mostly a thing of the past. I tend to be conservative and, while I recognize that racism still exists, I don't see it in every comment or disagreement. I am able to recognize that we really have come a long way with respect to racism. Unfortunately, not everyone sees things that way. It would be good for them to read books like Devil in the Grove, Soaring to Glory, Amazing Grace, Intellectuals and Race, Accidental Activist and others to learn what real racism was like for real people who lived through it.
March 27, 2020
I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book right after reading The Devil in the Grove, a book that shook me to my core. Accidental Activist is the awe inspiring journey of a young man who was so moved by the horrific injustices in the Groveland four case that he started a successful petition to obtain pardons for the men. Josh Venkataraman's passion and tenacity are something we need more of in this crazy world we live in; please run for office!
My thanks to Barbara Venkataraman for gifting me a copy of the book and congratulations on raising a special son.
My thanks to Barbara Venkataraman for gifting me a copy of the book and congratulations on raising a special son.
October 28, 2019
Our history is full of atrocities, injustices and never was it more evident than the 1949 mockery of justice when four young black men were falsely accused of raping a white teen in Groveland, Florida. Only some of them lived long enough to be sentenced to prison for a crime they could not have committed.
This is the account of one young man who saw a travesty and instead of saying “someone” should fix this, he took it upon himself to be that “someone.” The road was long, filled with pitfalls and revelations, connections made, and in the end, lessons learned that would shape the future of Josh Venkataram and justice in Florida.
ACCIDENTAL ACTIVIST is the story of Josh’s journey into activism and the hard truths he learned about some horrific injustices, the consequences and the pain suffered by the accused and their families.
Not in this country, you say? Discover how wrong it is to be so naïve and how change starts with just one person on a mission for truth with only determination to guide them.
This is powerful reading, eye-opening, heartbreaking and enraging. It is a tale of justice never quite served, told in an easy to read, down-to-earth style by a man who is just like everyone else, except he went out of his way to be the “someone” we all should strive to be. This should be mandatory reading for all.
I received a complimentary copy from Josh Venkataraman! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Publisher: Josh Venkataraman
Genre: Activism | Injustice | Civil Rights | Non-fiction
Print Length: 101 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
This is the account of one young man who saw a travesty and instead of saying “someone” should fix this, he took it upon himself to be that “someone.” The road was long, filled with pitfalls and revelations, connections made, and in the end, lessons learned that would shape the future of Josh Venkataram and justice in Florida.
ACCIDENTAL ACTIVIST is the story of Josh’s journey into activism and the hard truths he learned about some horrific injustices, the consequences and the pain suffered by the accused and their families.
Not in this country, you say? Discover how wrong it is to be so naïve and how change starts with just one person on a mission for truth with only determination to guide them.
This is powerful reading, eye-opening, heartbreaking and enraging. It is a tale of justice never quite served, told in an easy to read, down-to-earth style by a man who is just like everyone else, except he went out of his way to be the “someone” we all should strive to be. This should be mandatory reading for all.
I received a complimentary copy from Josh Venkataraman! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Publisher: Josh Venkataraman
Genre: Activism | Injustice | Civil Rights | Non-fiction
Print Length: 101 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 3, 2020
When I got a message from Barbara Venkataraman asking if I wanted to read this book she co-authored with her son, I had never heard of the Groveland Four. Of course, I'm not American and beyond, Disney World, know nothing about Florida and its history. Groveland Four are 4 young African-American men who were wrongly accused of raping a 17 year-old white girl. They were tortured until they confessed. Two of the four were killed and the other 2 spent time in prison. Their families of course, had to live with the shame of the alleged crime. This book details how Josh, then a university student, was inspired by another book, to start a petition to have the state of Florida exonerate and pardon these unjustly-wronged individuals, 70 years after the fact. He worked with the family of the Groveland Four to try to make this happen. He also found out that several groups of people have been trying for years, to get this exoneration.
It's a short book, written more to inspire and show that persistence will yield results. There might be obstacles in the way, but with patience, faith, and luck, success will happen. It's also a timely reminder that even now, racism and injustice happens. Unfortunately, people of colour still live with racism in various, oftimes insidious forms. And it's a reminder that one has to have the courage to speak up for justice and equality, even if it meant going up against an entrenched system.
Note: I ended up buying this book on Amazon since the proceeds are going to a good cause.
It's a short book, written more to inspire and show that persistence will yield results. There might be obstacles in the way, but with patience, faith, and luck, success will happen. It's also a timely reminder that even now, racism and injustice happens. Unfortunately, people of colour still live with racism in various, oftimes insidious forms. And it's a reminder that one has to have the courage to speak up for justice and equality, even if it meant going up against an entrenched system.
Note: I ended up buying this book on Amazon since the proceeds are going to a good cause.
August 20, 2021
Everyone who has ever written or signed a petition or try to organize a group of people to accomplish a goal should take heart from this story. It is a rare true story that tracks the efforts for social change that began with a single person and overtime gathered steam and was successful.
This is a short story and does not fairly convey how much work was put into this effort by quite a few people. To have a action passed unanimously by the Florida legislature condemning a historic racist action is amazing enough in itself.
I have personally attempted to publicize mostly through Facebook documentary film titled The Pacifist which is found on Amazon. So I can relate to some aspects of this story which involve a continuous effort to reach out to people who might be supportive. Anyone who is active in supporting and trying to move forward a social cause on social media is always hoping that the issue will catch fire and reach Masses of people. Going viral is a dream of Many and only an experience of a few.
This is a short story and does not fairly convey how much work was put into this effort by quite a few people. To have a action passed unanimously by the Florida legislature condemning a historic racist action is amazing enough in itself.
I have personally attempted to publicize mostly through Facebook documentary film titled The Pacifist which is found on Amazon. So I can relate to some aspects of this story which involve a continuous effort to reach out to people who might be supportive. Anyone who is active in supporting and trying to move forward a social cause on social media is always hoping that the issue will catch fire and reach Masses of people. Going viral is a dream of Many and only an experience of a few.
October 27, 2019
Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four is a wonderful read. Josh Venkataraman and Barbara Venkataraman have taken a very serious subject and made it easy to understand and truly enjoyable. Told in Josh's voice, this is part memoir and part political process, Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four follows the story of a young man deciding to try and right a wrong. After reading Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America about the Groveland Four and both the legal and societal wrongs, Josh Venkataraman decides to try and help clear the names of the four young men involved. What follows is a wonderful breathless tale of the ups and downs of trying to work the system on an old case.
Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four is aimed at young adults. While it is light on the heavy details and legal analysis usually found in memoirs of injustice, there is still plenty to hold the young's attention. It is a fast paced read and the author's are constantly imbuing excitement throughout the book. Josh Venkataraman's voice pulls of a real feat by telling the young adult that an injustice occurred and here is what I did to try and fix it. He talks to them in their language and removes the boring parts. It works beautifully. They also put in a teaser for the reader on the book that started his quest and without saying an extra word, leaves a compelling suggestion for the reader to follow up.
Adults will certainly enjoy this because everything is there to see. It is light on the details and that is a fair criticism, However, it is all between the lines. The book is kept in a light and positive style, yet there is plenty of criticism underlying the prose. The original injustice, the lack of enthusiasm to revisit the past by more than one that would rather leave sleeping dogs lay, and the realities of trying to just usher an old forgotten injustice through the system. There are plenty of single line statements that leave a far larger question for the reader to answer. When dwelt upon, this work is very contemplative and the reader will think about the questions late into the night. This is a wonderful work of the understated with a very powerful statement.
There is also a reality dealt with during the read. Much of it is very serious, yet the humor involved does not allow the story to be bogged down in morbidity. One of my favorite sections of the memoir is when the discussion involves Gilbert King being invited to speak at the University of Florida about his book on the Grovelend Four with the University expecting one type of discussion and Josh Venkataraman with a far different idea of what the event will focus upon. The young idealistic vs. the stodgy ivory tower. The young idealistic man learns a very important lesson.
Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four leaves plenty for the young to learn. How does a movement start? Why does the Groveland Four succeed when other worthy causes do not? Why even become involved in a cause, especially when it does not affect you? This work includes plenty of lessons of no one is an island and it takes a village. The authors go out of their way to ensure that the tale is not a one man show and that the families involved are not forgotten. The authors also insist the help they receive from the various benefactors are rightly crowed. Yes, it is one young man's story, but is is a very large caste of characters that made his quest a success and he did not do it alone in a vacuum. Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four is very pro Groveland Four, yet the original victim that started the Groveland Four case is given her say and it is treated with dignity. That says it all.
Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four is a great read. Well worth the time and just may restore one's faith in humanity.
Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four is aimed at young adults. While it is light on the heavy details and legal analysis usually found in memoirs of injustice, there is still plenty to hold the young's attention. It is a fast paced read and the author's are constantly imbuing excitement throughout the book. Josh Venkataraman's voice pulls of a real feat by telling the young adult that an injustice occurred and here is what I did to try and fix it. He talks to them in their language and removes the boring parts. It works beautifully. They also put in a teaser for the reader on the book that started his quest and without saying an extra word, leaves a compelling suggestion for the reader to follow up.
Adults will certainly enjoy this because everything is there to see. It is light on the details and that is a fair criticism, However, it is all between the lines. The book is kept in a light and positive style, yet there is plenty of criticism underlying the prose. The original injustice, the lack of enthusiasm to revisit the past by more than one that would rather leave sleeping dogs lay, and the realities of trying to just usher an old forgotten injustice through the system. There are plenty of single line statements that leave a far larger question for the reader to answer. When dwelt upon, this work is very contemplative and the reader will think about the questions late into the night. This is a wonderful work of the understated with a very powerful statement.
There is also a reality dealt with during the read. Much of it is very serious, yet the humor involved does not allow the story to be bogged down in morbidity. One of my favorite sections of the memoir is when the discussion involves Gilbert King being invited to speak at the University of Florida about his book on the Grovelend Four with the University expecting one type of discussion and Josh Venkataraman with a far different idea of what the event will focus upon. The young idealistic vs. the stodgy ivory tower. The young idealistic man learns a very important lesson.
Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four leaves plenty for the young to learn. How does a movement start? Why does the Groveland Four succeed when other worthy causes do not? Why even become involved in a cause, especially when it does not affect you? This work includes plenty of lessons of no one is an island and it takes a village. The authors go out of their way to ensure that the tale is not a one man show and that the families involved are not forgotten. The authors also insist the help they receive from the various benefactors are rightly crowed. Yes, it is one young man's story, but is is a very large caste of characters that made his quest a success and he did not do it alone in a vacuum. Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four is very pro Groveland Four, yet the original victim that started the Groveland Four case is given her say and it is treated with dignity. That says it all.
Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four is a great read. Well worth the time and just may restore one's faith in humanity.
December 26, 2019
What a refreshing and inspirational read for justice, especially during this critical time in our Nation's history. I read the underlying 2012 Pulitzer Prize winning book, Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall and the Groveland Boys and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King about four years ago so I was aware of the case which occurred in the Jim Crow era of the South. In 1949, a group of four African-American young men were accused of raping of white woman in Groveland, Florida. Before trial, one was killed by the county Sheriff, another by a vigilante mob fueled by the Klan. The other two were convicted by an all-white jury--no surprise there. And the story faded away for over seventy years. Until.
Josh Venkataraman was assigned to read King's book for college at the University of Florida and his passion for justice in this case began. He read the background on how attempts for "official state apologies" to the families of the convicted and deceased had failed in the Florida Legislature so he began a petition on the internet via change.org to bring awareness the families' quest for justice. Soon, he had support from throughout the state, including a group of elementary school students, beyond Florida and even outside the US.
Josh and his co-author mother Barbara are both attorneys, who fought so hard to provide some amount of justice to the Groveland Four's families. I was not aware of any progress in this case after I read Mr. King's book and looking back, I am glad that I wasn't. This book gave me the gift of being able to be part of the history made, part of the highs and the lows that go with working within the judicial system. I am very grateful to Josh, Barbara, their entire team, and the courageous politicians who worked so hard to see this case through to its just conclusion.
An excellent read which I highly recommend!!
Josh Venkataraman was assigned to read King's book for college at the University of Florida and his passion for justice in this case began. He read the background on how attempts for "official state apologies" to the families of the convicted and deceased had failed in the Florida Legislature so he began a petition on the internet via change.org to bring awareness the families' quest for justice. Soon, he had support from throughout the state, including a group of elementary school students, beyond Florida and even outside the US.
Josh and his co-author mother Barbara are both attorneys, who fought so hard to provide some amount of justice to the Groveland Four's families. I was not aware of any progress in this case after I read Mr. King's book and looking back, I am glad that I wasn't. This book gave me the gift of being able to be part of the history made, part of the highs and the lows that go with working within the judicial system. I am very grateful to Josh, Barbara, their entire team, and the courageous politicians who worked so hard to see this case through to its just conclusion.
An excellent read which I highly recommend!!
January 17, 2020
This book has multiple things working for it, any one of which makes it a worthwhile read in my opinion. I’ll talk about three here.
The first is basic story of the Groveland Four. If you aren’t familiar with them, these were four young black men (one only 16) accused of raping a young woman in 1949. The most important part is that two were convicted of a crime (the other two didn’t survive until trial time) and years later it became apparent that they hadn’t committed the crime. The Pulitzer Prize winning book Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King discusses the case in much more detail for those who are interested in more detail of the accusations and trials.
The second part is the memoir aspects of the book. Specifically, the thinking and feelings that Josh went through as he attempted to get more attention on this case with the goal of a pardon for those wrongfully convicted of this crime. Josh’s thoughts on how this, that happened almost seventy years ago, and current events compare to each other is especially pertinent. Maybe we haven’t come as far as we’d like to think.
The third aspect is as a guide or inspiration for those who have a cause of their own to fight for. Josh’s story might give you ideas and inspiration. It will also make the point that whatever you plan is going to change, that you can’t predict where help might come from, and the most important thing is to keep trying. (I’ll bet there is a lesson here that would be applicable in other areas too.)
I especially liked how the authors included thoughts from some of the other participants and stakeholders at various points to give us a look at what was going on from multiple points of view. This was a quick read and if any of the above is appealing, well worth the time.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
The first is basic story of the Groveland Four. If you aren’t familiar with them, these were four young black men (one only 16) accused of raping a young woman in 1949. The most important part is that two were convicted of a crime (the other two didn’t survive until trial time) and years later it became apparent that they hadn’t committed the crime. The Pulitzer Prize winning book Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King discusses the case in much more detail for those who are interested in more detail of the accusations and trials.
The second part is the memoir aspects of the book. Specifically, the thinking and feelings that Josh went through as he attempted to get more attention on this case with the goal of a pardon for those wrongfully convicted of this crime. Josh’s thoughts on how this, that happened almost seventy years ago, and current events compare to each other is especially pertinent. Maybe we haven’t come as far as we’d like to think.
The third aspect is as a guide or inspiration for those who have a cause of their own to fight for. Josh’s story might give you ideas and inspiration. It will also make the point that whatever you plan is going to change, that you can’t predict where help might come from, and the most important thing is to keep trying. (I’ll bet there is a lesson here that would be applicable in other areas too.)
I especially liked how the authors included thoughts from some of the other participants and stakeholders at various points to give us a look at what was going on from multiple points of view. This was a quick read and if any of the above is appealing, well worth the time.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
January 3, 2020
Excellent! I highly recommend this non-fiction book to anyone who enjoys stories about wrongs being made right, justice being achieved, or seeing the difference one person can make in today's world.
Josh was a University student when he decided to try making a difference. He was the right spark at the right time. His perseverance and skills made a difference.
I live in a different country from Josh but I had heard of the story of the Groveland Four. A horrible and inhumane injustice. It is so uplifting to know that those innocent men have finally, finally been pardoned. Reading the process, frustrations and help that Josh went through, makes justice appear to be possible anywhere.
Josh was a University student when he decided to try making a difference. He was the right spark at the right time. His perseverance and skills made a difference.
I live in a different country from Josh but I had heard of the story of the Groveland Four. A horrible and inhumane injustice. It is so uplifting to know that those innocent men have finally, finally been pardoned. Reading the process, frustrations and help that Josh went through, makes justice appear to be possible anywhere.
October 22, 2019
This book is documentation, in a very good story telling style, concerning one man’s push to right a wrong that occurred more than sixty years ago. It details the efforts, obstacles and help received to exonerate and pardon the Groveland Four—a group of four African American men falsely accused of raping a white woman in 1949 in the state of Florida. It was interesting to see the process and it was heartwarming to see dedicated individuals owning up to an injustice and working to set it right.
November 1, 2020
Disclaimer: I received a free Kindle copy of this book and promised to write a review. First, this is a great manual for Social Activism for those who may be more comfortable with orderly processes than street protests and rallies (I happen to be such a person). All you have to do is follow the steps that Josh Venkataraman did in trying to get the State of Florida to acknowledge the injustice committed by Sheriff Willis McCall, and the profoundly inherent racial biases against the African-American population of Central Florida throughout the justice system. There is no guarantee you will have the same results that Venkataraman did, but it will give you something to do instead of feeling frustrated and totally useless to do anything. Secondly, hurray for Josh Venkataraman and all similar young people who are socially conscious and not afraid to do something. Josh is about my son’s age and spending time with my son and his friends has given me hope for the future of our country. That particular generation seems to have arrived at adulthood with sincere values and beliefs of equality and diversity; in general, they seem to be polite, considerate, authentic, well-centered, without cynicism or guile. Last, the aspect of white, male privilege and the disparity between Josh’s successful Freshman attempt at social activism, when compared to the decades of failed attempts to get justice for the Groveland Four by the esteemed Geraldine Thompson, a Black woman, member of the Florida House Of Representatives and former State Senator, does seem to stand out as in need of address. Let us acknowledge that Ms. Thompson prepared the path for Josh, and also that Josh’s timing was extraordinary. Like many others, he was inspired by New York Times best-seller The Devil In The Grove by Gilbert King, and justice for the Groveland Four was in the collective social consciousness. Newly elected Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was trying to be seen as a Unifier, and not showing his true Republican colors as he is in 2020 by actively trying to disenfranchise (mostly African-American) voters by trying to overturn the successful Florida voter initiative to restore voting rights to returning citizens (former felons). In the end, Ms. Thompson and Josh both celebrate a much belated State pardon for Ernest Thomas, Charles Greenlee, Samuel Shepherd, and Walter Irvin.
November 30, 2019
In March, 2018, I read the Pulitzer Prize winning The Devil In The Grove by Gilbert King which chronicles 1 of the most egregious travesties of justice in 20th century U.S.A. In 1949, 4 young black men were accused of the rape of a white woman. She identified them all as her attackers, in spite of the fact that all 4 had alibis & 1 had been incarcerated in a different town at the time of the alleged crime. What those 4 boys (& they were very young men) endured after being identified would defy belief if we weren't so aware of the level of racism that still endures in the U.S., not to mention the rest of the world. 1 was shot dead by what must have been the most racist sheriff in history for 'attempting escape'. Another was shot & left for dead. He survived. Naturally, not the slightest weight was attributed to his claims that the sheriff had ordered them out of his car & told them to start running before opening fire. The surviving 3 served lengthy prison sentences. Before I became aware of this perversion of justice a young college student named Josh Venkataraman also read King's book. He devoted the next 4 years to helping these men, who had been treated so savagely simply because of the colour of their skins, achieve some kind of justice. In spite of various hurdles that were placed in his way, he managed to gain the trust of the surviving family members, coax various others to help serve his cause (including Gilbert King himself), & persuade obstinate (often Republican) governments to consider pardons, or even exonerations. Against considerable odds, he succeeded. So this short book constitutes a coda to the earlier masterwork. Anyone who read Devil In The Grove will appreciate the closure supplied by Josh's quest. Not as much as the families who endured decades of heartbreak, but the righting of a wrong, even after those wronged have died, is still worth pursuing. Thank you, Josh.
SPOILER ALERT
The most staggering aspect of this story comes during the final presenting of arguments before the courts. The woman allegedly raped in 1949 was not only still alive but insisted on providing testimony. She still claimed that the men she had identified as having raped her in 1949 were those who were subsequently either jailed or murdered for the crime. I wonder whether this case had been studied by Harper Lee before she wrote To Kill A Mockingbird.
SPOILER ALERT
The most staggering aspect of this story comes during the final presenting of arguments before the courts. The woman allegedly raped in 1949 was not only still alive but insisted on providing testimony. She still claimed that the men she had identified as having raped her in 1949 were those who were subsequently either jailed or murdered for the crime. I wonder whether this case had been studied by Harper Lee before she wrote To Kill A Mockingbird.
January 27, 2020
Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four
I'm primarily a fiction reader. When I pick up a nonfiction book, I want it to grab my attention and not let go. I can state this book did just that. From the beginning of his journey in 2015 to its end in 2019, Josh Venkataraman tells us of his desire to make it right for the families of the Groveland Four. It is a cause dear to his heart. I like what Josh states about causes: "A cause may be worth fighting for but if it's not causing you pain to think about it, if it's not burrowing under your skin to take up residence in your heart and mind, it's not for you. You can't look for a cause, it has to find you."
Josh took up his cause in early 2015, after reading a book in his American History class at the University of Florida. A literal sign on the side of the road which read 'Groveland' made the history real to Josh. He got in touch with Carol Greenlee, "a woman who swore she would never stop until her father's name was cleared." Once he had spoken with Carol, Josh started a petition on change.org to exonerate and pardon the Groveland Four. This was the beginning of a four year journey to clear Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvan, Samuel Shepherd and Ernest Thomas of a crime they didn't commit.
I found this book both engaging and frustrating. I cheered when the cause advanced, but became frustrated when it hit a road block. The voice and tone of the story echoes smoothly through the telling. At no point was I drawn out of this nonfiction book by word, deed or detail. It follows a linear structure. I enjoyed learning the ins and outs of what it takes to get a cause through the Florida government. It is inspiring see all the people, including children, who felt called to be a driving force behind the petition and the exoneration and pardon of the Groveland Four. I expect we'll see many more great things from Josh Venkataraman.
I received an electronic copy of this book from the author for a honest and unbiased review. Thank you Barbara Venkataraman for the opportunity to read your book.
I'm primarily a fiction reader. When I pick up a nonfiction book, I want it to grab my attention and not let go. I can state this book did just that. From the beginning of his journey in 2015 to its end in 2019, Josh Venkataraman tells us of his desire to make it right for the families of the Groveland Four. It is a cause dear to his heart. I like what Josh states about causes: "A cause may be worth fighting for but if it's not causing you pain to think about it, if it's not burrowing under your skin to take up residence in your heart and mind, it's not for you. You can't look for a cause, it has to find you."
Josh took up his cause in early 2015, after reading a book in his American History class at the University of Florida. A literal sign on the side of the road which read 'Groveland' made the history real to Josh. He got in touch with Carol Greenlee, "a woman who swore she would never stop until her father's name was cleared." Once he had spoken with Carol, Josh started a petition on change.org to exonerate and pardon the Groveland Four. This was the beginning of a four year journey to clear Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvan, Samuel Shepherd and Ernest Thomas of a crime they didn't commit.
I found this book both engaging and frustrating. I cheered when the cause advanced, but became frustrated when it hit a road block. The voice and tone of the story echoes smoothly through the telling. At no point was I drawn out of this nonfiction book by word, deed or detail. It follows a linear structure. I enjoyed learning the ins and outs of what it takes to get a cause through the Florida government. It is inspiring see all the people, including children, who felt called to be a driving force behind the petition and the exoneration and pardon of the Groveland Four. I expect we'll see many more great things from Josh Venkataraman.
I received an electronic copy of this book from the author for a honest and unbiased review. Thank you Barbara Venkataraman for the opportunity to read your book.
January 30, 2020
A very enjoyable read of a college student's entry into activism. After reading Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King, which details the horrible aftermath of a white woman's false accusation of rape against four young black men in Groveland, Florida, 70 years ago, Josh Venkataraman, a student at the University of Florida, was inspired to work for justice for the men. This book details Josh's journey, including meeting the families of the men. Josh talks about all of the ways that his work, including a petition on Change.org that garnered almost 10,000 signatures, inspired others and led to the best the justice system could do for the families of the four men 70 years after the terrible events in Groveland. I liked the personal style of Josh's writing, which made me feel almost like I was sitting across from him hearing him tell me the story.
One note: Not having read Devil in the Grove before reading this book (which I am definitely going to do now), I would have appreciated a bit more detailed discussion of the events in Groveland, perhaps in a prologue or appendix.
One note: Not having read Devil in the Grove before reading this book (which I am definitely going to do now), I would have appreciated a bit more detailed discussion of the events in Groveland, perhaps in a prologue or appendix.
October 20, 2019
What an amazing story!
I don't read a lot of non-fiction and when I do, it's rarely contemporary. But I've read Barbara Venkataraman 's cozy mysteries and enjoyed them, so I wanted to read this book. I'm so glad I did! The work that Josh Venkataraman put into getting pardons for the Groveland Four is inspirational. As he describes his efforts, he brings to life the lives of real people and the damage and pain the families of the Four endured for decades. I'm horrified by the injustice and cruelty, the hate towards people of color. I don't understand it but I know it still exists today. Josh was inspired by a book, and I hope others are inspired by his and Barbara's book. I remember reading Leonard Pitts Jr.'s columns in the newspaper about the efforts to clear the names of the Groveland Four, and glad that it finally happened. This book is a fast read, well edited, and even though you know the outcome, it's full of suspense due to the details of the efforts to get it done. It's like watching the movie Apollo 13. You know the astronauts get home safely, but it's a thrilling movie anyway. I teach a course in global and community social work and I will recommend this book to my students. We have a saying in social work: Social workers change the world one person at a time. Josh shows what one person can do to change the world.
I don't read a lot of non-fiction and when I do, it's rarely contemporary. But I've read Barbara Venkataraman 's cozy mysteries and enjoyed them, so I wanted to read this book. I'm so glad I did! The work that Josh Venkataraman put into getting pardons for the Groveland Four is inspirational. As he describes his efforts, he brings to life the lives of real people and the damage and pain the families of the Four endured for decades. I'm horrified by the injustice and cruelty, the hate towards people of color. I don't understand it but I know it still exists today. Josh was inspired by a book, and I hope others are inspired by his and Barbara's book. I remember reading Leonard Pitts Jr.'s columns in the newspaper about the efforts to clear the names of the Groveland Four, and glad that it finally happened. This book is a fast read, well edited, and even though you know the outcome, it's full of suspense due to the details of the efforts to get it done. It's like watching the movie Apollo 13. You know the astronauts get home safely, but it's a thrilling movie anyway. I teach a course in global and community social work and I will recommend this book to my students. We have a saying in social work: Social workers change the world one person at a time. Josh shows what one person can do to change the world.
November 12, 2019
Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four is a book that is full of inspiration and determination. I was unaware of this story of 4 African American young men who were convicted of raping a 17 year old white girl and assaulting her husband in 1949 in Florida . But that is not the story. The story is that these four were innocent and suffered immensely at the hands of our justice system at that time. When author Josh Venkataraman discovered this story he was adamant that those families should be allowed to have some type of closure and apology. Only two of the four survived to be incarcerated and he felt it was his time to fight the fight for their families. The book details all of the journey - from the triumphs to the pitfalls along the way the author shares his plan to become an activist on the behalf of these men and their families. It is difficult to understand why someone would wrongly accuse someone of such a horrific crime but unfortunately it happens. In this case the author was very successful in navigating a very difficult system to get the wrongful incarcerations and verdict changed. Kudos to Josh Venkataraman for his perseverance, his activism and his heart for getting things done. He is making a difference.
I was given a free copy of this ebook for my honest review.
I was given a free copy of this ebook for my honest review.
February 16, 2020
I’ll admit that this isn’t usually the type of book I read, but when I was asked if I would, I decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did. Honestly, I knew nothing about the Groveland Four case. I found myself immediately drawn into the case and Josh’s quest to get justice for the four men posthumously.
Josh’s quest not only brings to light the injustices and prejudices people of color faced back in the 40’s and 50’s, but the discrimination that they still face to this day. It also makes one wonder just how many people, even to this day, have been wrongly convicted for things they haven’t done just because of the color of their skin.
I was impressed with Josh and his determination to get the names of Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas cleared. All too often nowadays, young people just read about something like this, say it was awful, then just move on with their lives. Instead, he set off to clear their names and didn’t stop until he accomplished it. Even when it seemed like roadblocks were thrown in his way, he never gave up. I was amazed by the amount of time and effort he spent on this, and he should be very proud of what he accomplished.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy provided by the co-author**
Josh’s quest not only brings to light the injustices and prejudices people of color faced back in the 40’s and 50’s, but the discrimination that they still face to this day. It also makes one wonder just how many people, even to this day, have been wrongly convicted for things they haven’t done just because of the color of their skin.
I was impressed with Josh and his determination to get the names of Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas cleared. All too often nowadays, young people just read about something like this, say it was awful, then just move on with their lives. Instead, he set off to clear their names and didn’t stop until he accomplished it. Even when it seemed like roadblocks were thrown in his way, he never gave up. I was amazed by the amount of time and effort he spent on this, and he should be very proud of what he accomplished.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy provided by the co-author**
December 25, 2019
It’s sometimes challenging to review non-fiction, as I don’t feel comfortable ‘starring’ someone’s life or achievements. Having said that, I would want to note that this world needs more people like Josh - who find their cause, and pursue it wholeheartedly. Because people like that make this world a better place.
Accidental Activist feels like a warm conversation between Josh and the reader. It feels more anecdotal, and there are some missing bits in terms of giving the reader more background knowledge/full picture. It may feel sometimes rushed and uneven, but it also makes the account of Josh’s actions more of a genuine friendly conversation.
It’s a feel good story of perseverance mixed with a little bit of luck. It succeeds in sparking interest in the topic, and incites the reader to read more on the racism in Florida - not only about the Groveland Four, but also The Florida School for Boys. It’s extremely important for us to not pretend the ugly history has not happened. We need to acknowledge the racism, and we have to do whatever is in our power to right the wrongs of history. Even when it’s as symbolic as fighting to exonerate those wrongfully accused 70 years ago.
Thank you to the authors for providing me with the preview of this book.
Accidental Activist feels like a warm conversation between Josh and the reader. It feels more anecdotal, and there are some missing bits in terms of giving the reader more background knowledge/full picture. It may feel sometimes rushed and uneven, but it also makes the account of Josh’s actions more of a genuine friendly conversation.
It’s a feel good story of perseverance mixed with a little bit of luck. It succeeds in sparking interest in the topic, and incites the reader to read more on the racism in Florida - not only about the Groveland Four, but also The Florida School for Boys. It’s extremely important for us to not pretend the ugly history has not happened. We need to acknowledge the racism, and we have to do whatever is in our power to right the wrongs of history. Even when it’s as symbolic as fighting to exonerate those wrongfully accused 70 years ago.
Thank you to the authors for providing me with the preview of this book.
January 11, 2020
I normally do not read non-fiction books for enjoyment. However, I decided to give this one a try since I am familiar with one of the author’s other works. I was not disappointed. This is a very well-written book. This is a book that should’ve been written and should be read. The book shows that one person can really make a difference as long as they are willing to put in the work to bring about the changes that need to happen. I was not aware of this case before reading this book. However, after reading the book I feel that I am well informed on this case. Reading this book even though non-fiction was easy to read, is written in a kind of storyteller style. I recommend this book to those interested in history or criminal justice.
I voluntarily agreed to listen to a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced by anyone.
I voluntarily agreed to listen to a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced by anyone.
October 25, 2019
The Story of this book restores your hope for humans and this country. One student reads a book and sets something into motion events that helps to restore some measure of justice for four men over events 70 years in the past. Josh became the lynch pin and is able to bring about if not a miracle something that is pretty darn close. The telling of the story makes you realize that if you belief in something enough to do the work, you can make things happen. Thank you to Josh and Barbara for the work they did to bring the story to the rest of the world outside of Florida and to Josh for helping to if not righting a wrong at least making it better.
November 10, 2019
I’m so glad the authors wrote this book. It details the many steps involved in deeply committing and fighting to right an injustice that had been purposefully ignored by too many people for far too long. Social activism is definitely not easy, and trying to clear the names of the innocent Groveland Four must have felt impossible at times. This book, however, offers suggestions and gives hope to anyone who chooses to work hard to make the world a better place.
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