Representing the Race: The Creation of the Civil Rights Lawyer

Name: Representing the Race: The Creation of the Civil Rights Lawyer
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4.1 of 5 Stars: Legal History - Representing the Race: The Creation of the Civil Rights Lawyer

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“A wonderful excavation of the first era of civil rights lawyering.”—Randall L. Kennedy, author of The Persistence of the Color Line

“Ken Mack brings to this monumental work not only a profound understanding of law, biography, history, and racial relations but also an engaging narrative style that brings each of his subjects dynamically alive.”—Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Team of Rivals

Representing the Race tells the story of an enduring paradox of American race relations through the prism of a collective biography of African American lawyers who worked in the era of segregation. Practicing the law and seeking justice for diverse clients, they confronted a tension between their racial identity as black men and women and their professional identity as lawyers. Both blacks and whites demanded that these attorneys stand apart from their racial community as members of the legal fraternity. Yet, at the same time, they were expected to be “authentic”—that is, in sympathy with the black masses. This conundrum, as Kenneth W. Mack shows, continues to reverberate through American politics today.

Mack reorients what we thought we knew about famous figures such as Thurgood Marshall, who rose to prominence by convincing local blacks and prominent whites that he was—as nearly as possible—one of them. But he also introduces a little-known cast of characters to the American racial narrative. These include Loren Miller, the biracial Los Angeles lawyer who, after learning in college that he was black, became a Marxist critic of his fellow black attorneys and ultimately a leading civil rights advocate; and Pauli Murray, a black woman who seemed neither black nor white, neither man nor woman, who helped invent sex discrimination as a category of law. The stories of these lawyers pose the unsettling question: what, ultimately, does it mean to “represent” a minority group in the give-and-take of American law and politics?

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Looking for an enlightening and captivating read? Look no further than "Representing the Race: The Creation of the Civil Rights Lawyer"! This groundbreaking book delves into the fascinating world of African American lawyers during the era of segregation, offering a fresh perspective on American race relations. With a captivating narrative style, author Ken Mack brings the stories of these trailblazing lawyers dynamically alive, making it a must-read for history enthusiasts.

What sets "Representing the Race" apart is its exploration of the complex tensions faced by African American lawyers during this era. They were not only tasked with practicing the law and seeking justice for diverse clients but also encountered the struggle of reconciling their racial identity with their professional identity. Forced to navigate between the expectations of standing apart from their racial community as legal professionals and remaining authentic in their sympathy for the black masses, these lawyers faced an ongoing conundrum that still influences American politics today.

Prepare to have your perceptions challenged as Ken Mack reorients our understanding of well-known figures like Thurgood Marshall. Discover the lesser-known but equally influential lawyers, such as Loren Miller, whose biracial background led him to critically analyze his fellow black attorneys while championing civil rights, and Pauli Murray, who defied conventional categorizations as a black woman and became instrumental in shaping sex discrimination as a category of law.

As you immerse yourself in the stories of these remarkable lawyers, "Representing the Race" compels us to ponder the significance of representing a minority group in American law and politics. With its thought-provoking content and engaging storytelling, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in history, civil rights, and the complexities of American society.

Ready to be inspired and enlightened? Don't miss out on this enlightening journey through a pivotal period in American history. Grab your copy of "Representing the Race: The Creation of the Civil Rights Lawyer" today and embark on a captivating exploration of race, law, and the pursuit of justice. Click here to get your copy now!

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