A review by cortneyj92
Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism by James W. Loewen
5.0
While it's written more academically than his other books, Loewen still writes with accessibility and clarity. The book is a thorough analysis of the specific policies and practices that led to "Sundown Towns" in the United States.
It's greatest success, in my opinion, lies in its blunt postulation that these racially-exclusive towns (sometimes wrongfully termed as de facto) were creations by white human behaviors, white government policies (some codified, some verbal), and then continued white deniability when racism was no longer "publicly acceptable".
Loewen ends his work with recommended remedies to the still largely segregated United States. He admits in their lacking, nevertheless there is a provocation of thought, "What can I do?". I recommend this book to everyone. It's essential knowledge.
It's greatest success, in my opinion, lies in its blunt postulation that these racially-exclusive towns (sometimes wrongfully termed as de facto) were creations by white human behaviors, white government policies (some codified, some verbal), and then continued white deniability when racism was no longer "publicly acceptable".
Loewen ends his work with recommended remedies to the still largely segregated United States. He admits in their lacking, nevertheless there is a provocation of thought, "What can I do?". I recommend this book to everyone. It's essential knowledge.