Nicholas Lemann offers a vivid narrative of the Colfax massacre in 1873, where white vigilantes attacked Black civilians in Louisiana. He places this atrocity at the heart of a broader insurgency that sought to dismantle the Reconstruction amendments and suppress emerging Black political power.
Through detailed research and on-the-ground reporting, the author examines how organized racial violence from Colfax to Mississippi reshaped American politics during the Grant administration. Readers discover how these campaigns of terror tested the resilience of federal authority and the promise of civil rights.
Lemann’s engaging prose brings to life the individuals on both sides of this conflict: from local Black leaders fighting for their communities to former Confederates determined to reclaim power. His analysis reveals the consequences of unchecked racial terror and what it meant for the future of civil rights in America.
Key Themes:
- The 1873 Colfax massacre and its aftermath
- White supremacist insurgency against Reconstruction
- The struggle to enforce Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments
- Impact on the future of American democracy
Redemption is essential for readers seeking a concise, rigorous portrait of post-Civil War racial conflict and the early struggle for civil rights.
