The Color of Law

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein, 345 pages


Rothstein sets the stage for his argument in the introduction. First, he establishes the difference between de jure and de facto segregation. De jure segregation is segregation by law and public policy while de facto segregation is segregation by private practices. Rothstein invokes legal theory set forth by Supreme Court Justice Roberts that the government should be obligated to remedy segregation that is sponsored by the government. Roberts says that most segregation doesn't fall into that category. Rothstein sets out to refute that assertion.

He spends most of the book showing how Federal, State and local government was involved in segregation through either laws, ignoring laws or court decisions, through policy or by being complicit in allowing segregation. Some policies weren't explicitly stated as for segregation but their effect clearly was. In some cases, their stated policy wasn't for segregation but their words and actions were towards segregation. There is documentation to show that government increased the level of segregation. There are actually several examples from St. Louis or nearby.

Rothstein does a good job of making his case. There are a few instances where some examples can be disputed but they don't take away from his overall case. He admits that some scholars would argue that we don't need to distinguish between public and private segregation and that government should have to fix it regardless of if the government caused it but he sticks to his narrow argument.

His fixes mostly involve different methods to integrate society. He admits it would be difficult to get them implemented.

There is so much of history that is never taught in school. I am glad I read this book because I was completely unaware of most of the information presented in this book.

I would especially recommend this to those interested in history or social justice or anybody with an open mind who likes non-fiction.

Trouble The Water

Trouble The Water by Frances O’Roark Dowell, 278 pages

“In the segregated south of Kentucky in 1953, twelve-year-olds Callie, who is black, and Wendell, who is white, are brought together by an old dog that is clearly seeking something or someone, but they not only face prejudice, they find trouble at a haunted cabin in the woods.” This was a fascinating combination of realistic fiction, historical fiction, and ghost story.  I think this falls heaviest on the historical fiction side and would probably lean towards giving it to kids who like that genre but I think it could have wider appeal.

Stella By Starlight

Stella By Starlight by Sharon M. Draper, 320 pages

Stella and her brother Jojo are scared when they see the Ku Klux Klan burning a cross near their home one night and their parents and friends and neighbors are scared too.  Stella’s dad, along with another man and their pastor decide to register to vote anyway.  They’ve decided that they have to take a stand or nothing will ever change.  Stella wants things to change for African Americans but isn’t sure what we can do.  She wants to be able to write but can’t seem to get the words to come out the way she wants.  In school, her grades for writing aren’t as good as they should be and even though she practices at home, she struggles.  Her teacher tells her she should write about herself.  Stella tries, and it’s still hard, but she seems to start to improve a little.  Stella is just trying to make her way and help her family, but it seems like bad things sometimes follow African Americans.  This si a good historical fiction for kids, especially those interested in Civil Rights.

The Port Chicago 50

The Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin, 200 pages

This book is an account of the actions of fifty African American Naval men accused of mutiny during World War II.  At that time, all branches of the Armed Forces were segregated and African Americans were only allowed to be on board ships as mess attendants.  The group of people in Port Chicago were responsible for loading explosives on board ships.  After an explosion destroys a ship, killing 320 people, several of the men were afraid to go back to loading, feeling that the cause of the explosion was directly related to some of the unsafe practices being employed by the Naval officers.  In the end, fifty men refused to go back to work and were court martialed and tried for mutiny.  This is a case that I knew nothing about before reading this book.  It was well written and clear and showed not only what was happening with the trial but also the discrimination African Americans were subjected to in both the Armed Forced and the country in general.  I would definitely recommend this to any kid or teen interested in reading about civil rights.