The Color of the Law: Race, Violence, and Justice in the Post-World War II South (The John Hope Franklin Series in African American History and Culture)

On February 25, 1946, African Americans in Columbia, Tennessee, averted the lynching of James Stephenson, a nineteen-year-old, black Navy veteran accused of attacking a white radio repairman at a local department store. That night, after Stephenson was safely out of town, four of Columbia's police officers were shot and wounded when they tried to enter the town's black business district. The next morning, the Tennessee Highway Patrol invaded the district, wrecking establishments and beating men as they arrested them. By day's end, more than one hundred African Americans had been jailed. Two days later, highway patrolmen killed two of the arrestees while they were awaiting release from jail. Drawing on oral interviews and a rich array of written sources, Gail Williams O'Brien tells the dramatic story of the Columbia "race riot," the national attention it drew, and its surprising legal aftermath. In the process, she illuminates the effects of World War II on race relations and the criminal justice system in the United States. O'Brien argues that the Columbia events are emblematic of a nationwide shift during the 1940s from mob violence against African Americans to increased confrontations between blacks and the police and courts. As such, they reveal the history behind such contemporary conflicts as the Rodney King and O. J. Simpson cases. On February 25, 1946, African Americans In Columbia, Tennessee, Averted The Lynching Of James Stephenson, A Nineteen-year-old, Black Navy Veteran Who Had Fought With A White Army Veteran And Radio Repairman At A Local Department Store. That Night, After Stephenson Was Safely Out Of Town, Four Of Columbia's Police Officers Were Shot And Wounded When They Tried To Enter The Town's Black Business District. The Next Morning, The Tennessee Highway Patrol Invaded The District, Wrecking Establishments And Beating Men As They Arrested Them. Drawing On Extensive Oral History Interviews And A Rich Array Of Written Records - Including Federal Grand Jury Records Acquired Through A Court Order, A Trial Transcript Thought Not To Exist, And A Transcript Of The Interrogation Of Two Black Suspects Just Before They Were Killed In Jail - Gail Williams O'brien Tells The Dramatic Story Of The Columbia Race Riot And The Events That Followed. O'brien Sees The Columbia Events As Emblematic Of The Shift In Emphasis During The 1940s From Racially Motivated Mob Violence, Prevalent For Decades In The American South, To Increased Confrontations Between African Americans And The Criminal Justice System, A Nationwide Phenomenon.--jacket. The Columbia Story -- The Bottom And Its Brokers -- War, Esteem, Efficacy, And Entitlement -- The Making And Unmaking Of Mobocracy -- The Politics Of Policing -- Grand (jury) Maneuvers And The Politics Of Exclusion -- Outsiders And The Politics Of Justice. Gail Williams O'brien. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [313]-326) And Index. Drawing on oral interviews and an array of written sources, this is the dramatic story of the 1946 Columbia ""race riot"", the national attention it drew, and its surprising legal aftermath. It illuminates the effects of World War II on race relations and the criminal justice system in the USA.