Invisible [eBook - NC Digital Library] : The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down America's Most Powerful Mobster

The bestselling author delves into his past and retrieves the inspiring story of his grandmother's extraordinary life She was brilliant, ambitious, and unafraid to break barriers. As the only member of a squad of twenty high-powered lawyers who was not a white male, she devised the strategy that in the 1930s sent Mafia chieftan Lucky Luciano to prison. She achieved so much—but what could she have accomplished if not for barriers of race and gender? Eunice Hunton Carter, Stephen Carter's grandmother, was the daughter of a distinguished African American couple and the granddaughter of slaves. A graduate of Smith College and Fordham Law School, she became a key member of the legal team charged with breaking up organized crime in New York City. By the 1940s, she was one of the most famous black women in America. But at every turn, Eunice encountered prejudice, and her triumphs were shadowed by tragedy. Greatly complicating her rise was her... She Was Brilliant, Ambitious, And Unafraid To Break Barriers. As The Only Member Of A Squad Of Twenty High-powered Lawyers Who Was Not A White Male, She Devised The Strategy That In The 1930s Sent Mafia Chieftain Lucky Luciano To Prison. She Achieved So Much--but What Could She Have Accomplished If Not For Barriers Of Race And Gender?...--back Cover. She Was Black And A Woman And A Prosecutor, A Graduate Of Smith College And The Granddaughter Of Slaves, As Dazzlingly Unlikely A Combination As One Could Imagine In The New York Of The 1930s--and Without The Strategy She Devised, Lucky Luciano, The Most Powerful Mafia Boss In History, Would Never Have Been Convicted. When Special Prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey Selected Twenty Lawyers To Help Him Clean Up The City's Underworld, She Was The Only Member Of His Team Who Was Not A White Male. Eunice Hunton Carter, Stephen Carter's Grandmother, Was Raised In A World Of Stultifying Expectations About Race And Gender, Yet By The 1940s Her Professional And Political Successes Had Made Her One Of The Most Famous Black Women In America. But Her Triumphs Were Shadowed By Prejudice And Tragedy. Greatly Complicating Her Rise Was Her Difficult Relationship With Her Younger Brother, Alphaeus, An Avowed Communist Who--together With His Friend Dashiell Hammett--would Go To Prison During The Mccarthy Era. Yet She Remained Unbowed. Moving, Haunting, And As Fast Paced As A Novel, [this Book] Tells The True Story Of A Woman Who Often Found Her Path Blocked By The Social And Political Expectations Of Her Time. But Eunice Carter Never Accepted Defeat, And Thanks To Her Grandson's Remarkable Book, Her Long-forgotten Story Is Once Again Visible.--dust Jacket. Stephen L. Carter. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

The bestselling author delves into his past and discovers the inspiring story of his grandmother’s extraordinary life

She was black and a woman and a prosecutor, a graduate of Smith College and the granddaughter of slaves, as dazzlingly unlikely a combination as one could imagine in New York of the 1930s—and without the strategy she devised, Lucky Luciano, the most powerful Mafia boss in history, would never have been convicted. When special prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey selected twenty lawyers to help him clean up the city’s underworld, she was the only member of his team who was not a white male.


Eunice Hunton Carter, Stephen Carter’s grandmother, was raised in a world of stultifying expectations about race and gender, yet by the 1940s, her professional and political successes had made her one of the most famous black women in America. But her triumphs were shadowed by prejudice and tragedy. Greatly complicating her rise was her difficult relationship with her younger brother, Alphaeus, an avowed Communist who—together with his friend Dashiell Hammett—would go to prison during the McCarthy era. Yet she remained unbowed.


Moving, haunting, and as fast-paced as a novel, Invisible tells the true story of a woman who often found her path blocked by the social and political expectations of her time. But Eunice Carter never accepted defeat, and thanks to her grandson’s remarkable book, her long forgotten story is once again visible.

The bestselling author delves into his past and discovers the inspiring story of his grandmothers extraordinary life. She was black and a woman and a prosecutor, a graduate of Smith College and the granddaughter of slaves, as dazzlingly unlikely a combination as one could imagine in New York of the 1930s and without the strategy she devised, Lucky Luciano, the most powerful Mafia boss in history, would never have been convicted. When special prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey selected twenty lawyers to help him clean up the citys underworld, she was the only member of his team who was not a white male. Eunice Hunton Carter, Stephen Carters grandmother, was raised in a world of stultifying expectations about race and gender, yet by the 1940s, her professional and political successes had made her one of the most famous black women in America. But her triumphs were shadowed by prejudice and tragedy. Greatly complicating her rise was her difficult relationship with her younger brother, Alphaeus, an avowed Communist who together with his friend Dashiell Hammett would go to prison during the McCarthy era. Yet she remained unbowed. Moving, haunting, and as fast-paced as a novel, Invisible tells the true story of a woman who often found her path blocked by the social and political expectations of her time. But Eunice Carter never accepted defeat, and thanks to her grandsons remarkable book, her long forgotten story is once again visible. Eunice Hunton Carter, a graduate of Smith College and the granddaughter of slaves, helped special prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey prosecute Lucky Luciano, the most powerful Mafia boss in history. Eunice was raised in a world of stultifying expectations about race and gender, yet by the 1940s her professional and political successes had made her one of the most famous black women in America. Although her triumphs were shadowed by prejudice and tragedy, Eunice Carter never accepted defeat