At the Hands of Persons Unknown : The Lynching of Black America (Modern Library)

Rating:
Summary: a disturbing page-turner
Review: This is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. Dray has done a magnificent job of exploring a very painful subject. Often times, while reading the book, I shook my head in disbelief, saying to myself: "This happened in America?" Too often the incidents described in the book smack of something one would expect to find in the Middle Ages.
Dray explains "what" happened. But more important he explains "why" it happened. This book is a tremendous contribution to American history.
Lynching is a subject most people know very little about. Dray raises the curtain and shows the world the shocking and
devastating legacy of lynching. The impact was not just lost lives, but a message of fear and intimidation toward African-Americans.
This book should be read by anyone interested in American history. You will find yourself in disbelief that these incidents happened in the United States of America. It's time to talk about slavery, lynching, Jim Crow, etc. How did this happen in the USA? It's mind-boggling.