GOOD BOOK

Hey, one of the best books I've read of late is this one: CONTEMPT OF COURT: THE TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY LYNCHING THAT LAUNCHED 100 YEARS OF FEDERALISM. This book is history written in the form of a novel, and it tells the true story of Ed Johnson, a Black man wrongly accused of rape in Chattoonaga in 1906. Back then rape was a capital offense and lynching was the law of the land. Ed Johnson's rights were trampled on in a travesty of justice called his trial. (Read the book for details) Of course he was convicted, but two Black lawyers (with the help of a white one) took his case to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court granted a temporary stay to Mr. Johnson's execution until the case could be looked into further. Unfortunately, Chattanooga Sheriff Shipp and his cohorts ignored the stay and allowed Johnson to fall victim to a lynch mob. The wonderful turn of events involved Shipp and a handful of others being found guilty of contempt of court. This happy outcome was anticlimactic though because the sentence was only 90 days in jail. Very interesting book if you want to know about what life was like for African-Americans at the turn of the century, particularly Black men, AND if you want to know how states' rights have historically been subject to federal authority.