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clarehiyama's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Fascinating and easy to read, this book provides crucial insights into the mechanisms that powered freedom movements in the 1940s-‘60s. As Cobb notes, this is not the classic civil rights history most of us learned in school. His insights in this book are relevant to today’s movements as well. Non-violence and armed self-defense are not mutually exclusive tactics; in fact, each bolsters the other. The framing of non-violence as a tactic rather than an all-encompassing philosophy or way of life was also new to me; some in the movement were dedicated to it fully, but many saw it as useful and strategic, rather than something that needs to define them fully. Cobb’s emphasis on the importance of grassroots organizing is something else I’ll take with me from this book. Actually having a network of people in relationship with each other, who are there for each other, who are doing lots of smaller scale things regularly and can be counted on to be there for bigger scale things, is so antithetical to much of the US’s culture but is clearly a CRUCIAL part of successful movements. I really learned a lot from this book! Thanks, Mr. Cobb.
averyjpub's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
This was a good historical look at the prominence of the non violent movement during the civil rights era but with a genuine look at the Black armed resistance that was often undergirding the movement. I learned about Blsck revolutionaries who truly understood that armed resistance was a path forward from the daily terrorism they faced. While overall the book was good the afterward threw me because it started talking about, I suppose, Black on black crime and/or inner city violence, which felt so out of context for the book that it felt like a unnecessary addition, it felt forced and truly out of place. Other than that oddity this is a must read book for anyone trying to understand the civil rights movement and the necessity of Black armed struggle.
lunabbly's review
4.0
It's always hard to rate/review informational books that provide such rich insight into lived experiences as well as combat the popular narrative of what a concept or movement was.
Cobb reminds us that the 50s and 60s were an age of terror for Black folks. A lot of the narrative hones in on the Midwest and Deep South (he provides a lot of context and background on Mississippi and Louisiana in particular). We must remind ourselves of the situation and the terror that white folks were imposing on Black communities and maybe even their white peers who sought to integrate communities.
I highly recommend for folks to read Cobb's book because it's full of narrative, evidence, and insight.
Cobb reminds us that the 50s and 60s were an age of terror for Black folks. A lot of the narrative hones in on the Midwest and Deep South (he provides a lot of context and background on Mississippi and Louisiana in particular). We must remind ourselves of the situation and the terror that white folks were imposing on Black communities and maybe even their white peers who sought to integrate communities.
I highly recommend for folks to read Cobb's book because it's full of narrative, evidence, and insight.
coleperry's review
5.0
I expected a manifesto of violence, and honestly wasn't sure how I felt about that. BUT this was a wonderful history of armed self-defense within the so-called nonviolent movement of the American South. An essential side of the story that antiracist movements of today ought to reckon with.
rawrwar's review
5.0
As a Mennonite, this book was a mind opener for me for sure. Really well written - I'm so glad I stumbled on it!
monkeyhippy's review
4.0
Important history and well-documented here, but dry and could have been shorter. I had trouble making it through.