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How The Supreme Court Gutted Civil Rights: The Unpunished Colfax Massacre & Origins of Jim Crow
May 07, 2025 · 13 min

Unpunished Murder by Lawrence Goldstone is a work of Historical Non-Fiction, first published in September 2018 available on Amazon:

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This powerful book delves into the tragic 1873 Colfax Massacre in Louisiana, where over one hundred African-American men were brutally slaughtered by white supremacists. Described by the author as "the story of Colfax, then, is the story of America," Goldstone uses this little-known event as a critical lens to examine how the U.S. political system, especially the Supreme Court, repeatedly failed to protect the rights of African-Americans during and after Reconstruction. The book traces the events of the massacre, the ensuing legal battles led by U.S. Attorney James R. Beckwith, and the ultimate impact of key Supreme Court decisions. It reveals how a narrow interpretation of constitutional guarantees undermined the promise of equal rights and paved the way for the Jim Crow era. "Unpunished Murder" is presented not just as a historical account, but as essential reading for understanding the deep roots of racial inequities and tensions that persist in American society today, highlighting the ongoing nature of the battles for the nation's soul.

#UnpunishedMurder #LawrenceGoldstone #HistoricalNonFiction #Reconstruction #ColfaxMassacre #CivilRights #AmericanHistory #SupremeCourt #RacialInjustice #JimCrow #USHistory #NonFictionBooks

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