Arc of Justice

A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age

By: Kevin Boyle

Narrated by: Lizan Mitchell

National Book Award, Nonfiction, 2004

The grandson of a slave, Dr. Ossian Sweet moved his family to an all-white Detroit neighborhood in 1925. When his neighbors attempted to drive him out, Sweet defended himself, resulting in the death of a white man and a murder trial for Sweet. There followed one of the most important (and shockingly unknown) cases in Civil Rights history. Also caught up in the intense courtroom drama were legal giant Clarence Darrow and the newly formed National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Highly esteemed history professor, author and editor Kevin Boyle was presented with the National Book Award for this stunning literary achievement. Arc of Justice artfully captures a tumultuous period in American history as it tells a shocking story of violence and racial strife.

©2004 Kevin Boyle (P)2006 Recorded Books LLC

Critic reviews

"This popular history, which explores the politics of racism and the internecine battles within the nascent Civil Rights movement, grips right up to the stunning jaw-dropper of an ending." (Publishers Weekly)
"Boyle, a history professor, brings immediacy and drama to the social and economic factors that ignited racial violence, provoked the compelling court case, and set in motion the civil rights struggle." (Booklist)

kay

this is a great story of the black struggle in America. the struggle must continue

History written with the dynamic prose of fiction.

The characterization of the primary characters with their aspirations and weaknesses is one of two major reason that the book works so well. The other reason is the relevance of the issue of segregation and redlining areas; this practice still defines far too many American cities.

Long, but informative

This book took me forever to complete, but I did. Well read by narrator and historically informative - I feel like I know so much more now about African-American history, from post-civil war through the 1920's. However, at times so many historical sidetracks were taken that it was easy to forget what was going on in the story, some repetition, and ending was abrupt. Not a page turner at all, but highly educational.

Narrator is Great!

Loved the way the story was told. It could NOT have been arranged any better for desired effect. The female narrator countered my errant perception that female narrators add a soft touch that can detract from a tough story.

Chapters

The audible chapters aren't at the same place as the actual book chapters, which is really annoying when reading for school and skipping around. It's difficult to know where you are/how much you've read
The book was a good and interesting read though.