Blood at the Root: A Racial Cleansing in America (2016 original; edició 2016)

I enjoyed this book and learning about a "piece of history" unbeknownst to me about a county just two hours north of my hometown on the border of GA/ AL. To think such racist mindsets continue to permeate our communities even in the 21st century... ( )

Oh lord this is depressing to read. Depressing but enlightening. In case you didn't know, this country is still really racist and we have a long way to go. ( )

I was sick with pain reading this book. That is not an expression, I was nauseous and achy and in tears for much of this book. I live in Atlanta, I am active in social justice organizations, and I did not know this history. Yes I knew Forsyth was a racist place (honestly they aren't crazy about Jews either...until the last 10 years I am not sure they were happy about non-blondes), that black people had been banned from the county in the 20th century, and that it has since become one huge upscale Atlanta exurb (I think it is the 15th richest county in the country.) What I didn't know was that there was once a thriving black community in Forsyth, and that community was flushed out by evil beyond words. This story is so important. I urge everyone to read it to understand better where race relations stand in America. The things that happened in Forsyth in the 70s, 40 years ago, seem to many things that happened only hundreds of years ago. They are not. And we are only 15 or so years out from having people alive who remembered living with the daily threat of being lynched right here 20 miles from "the city too busy to hate."

Worth mentioning: the book is masterfully researched and written by someone who grew up in Forsyth. This is both an important history, and a very personal journey and it really works. ( )

I wish I was in a more capable state of mind to provide a review equal to the quality of this book. First is the quality of this author's writing. While this is a non-fiction limited history report, it is provided by a poet. No, a real one. I've read several excellent novels and short story collections from poets, but this will be my first historical book from one, at least to my knowledge. In any event, the skill set reveals itself in many fine ways, including concise flowing narrative. Secondly -- and I guess this may be a poetry thing, too -- the author takes a rather stark, in your face topic and finds layers of insight, not only for the times in which these events occurred but also, very much so, to the current American political and societal conditions. There is a particular time about a century ago in American history upon which this book derives its core, but the author finds depth through supporting events that take place decades apart and right up to the time when the author's own family is involved and bears direct witness. Regardless, I will make this final point. Toward the very end of this book, the author sort of throws out a here's-where-we-are now-years-later assessment, and it is so much apart from what happened before that the reader may then ask, "So, why should we care about what no longer exists?" I challenge other readers: What made those changes occur and how do we go about recreating them, especially in light of today's American conflicts that are so clearly mirrored in the past? ( )

Booklist, 2016