A review by msand3
The Marrow of Tradition by Charles W. Chesnutt

5.0

4.5 stars. Another classic page-turner from Chesnutt that remains starkly relevant in the United States in 2020: the political machinations to suppress black votes, the separate justice systems for whites and blacks, the structural design of white supremacy built into the very fabric of America's social order, the extrajudicial violence against black bodies, and the view of rioting whites as noble, while any response or self-defense from blacks is seen as criminal. It feels all-too-familiar for Americans today. As with [b:The House Behind the Cedars|1109977|The House Behind the Cedars|Charles W. Chesnutt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348596821l/1109977._SY75_.jpg|1510261], Chesnutt’s ending is melodramatic, although we understand there can be no other way to end a narrative that hinges on such extreme, generations-long outrages. It’s the best I’ve read from Chesnutt and makes me want to seek out his under-appreciated final novel.