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Simple Justice

The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Black America's Struggle for Equality

Author Richard Kluger
Ebook
Knopf | Vintage
On sale Aug 24, 2011 | 880 Pages | 9780307546081
Grades AP/IB
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Simple Justice is the definitive history of the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education and the epic struggle for racial equality in this country. Combining intensive research with original interviews with surviving participants, Richard Kluger provides the fullest possible view of the human and legal drama in the years before 1954, the cumulative assaults on the white power structure that defended segregation, and the step-by-step establishment of a team of inspired black lawyers that could successfully challenge the law. Now, on the fiftieth anniversary of the unanimous Supreme Court decision that ended legal segregation, Kluger has updated his work with a new final chapter covering events and issues that have arisen since the book was first published, including developments in civil rights and recent cases involving affirmative action, which rose directly out of Brown v. Board of Education.
© Michael Lionstar

Richard Kluger is the author of Ashes to Ashes: America's Hundred-Year Cigarette War, the Public Health, and the Unabashed Triumph of Philip Morris, which won the Pulitzer Prize. His Simple Justice: The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Black America's Struggle for Equality and The Paper: The Life and Death of the New York Herald Tribune both were finalists for the National Book Award. He is the author or coauthor of eight novels as well.

View titles by Richard Kluger
  • WINNER | 1977
    Anisfield-Wolf Book Award
  • WINNER | 1976
    Sidney Hillman Prize
  • FINALIST | 1976
    National Book Critics Circle Awards
“One of the most important books published in our American times. . . . A major accomplishment.” —Philadelphia Inquirer

“Extraordinary. . . . An outstanding piece of legal and social history.” —Washington Post

“A thought-provoking work that should become part of the standard literature on race relations.” —New York Times Book Review

“The definitive account, to date, of the struggle for black equality in America. . . . A monumental accomplishment.” —The Nation

“This huge, fascinating book . . . classic in its clarity and dimensions . . . should become part of our nation’s scriptures.” —Chicago Sun-Times

“An extraordinary research effort, and a major contribution to our understanding of the Supreme Court.” —Harvard Law Review

“A brilliant and powerful book.”–Bob Herbert, The New York Times

“A gripping story . . . epic history.” –Los Angeles Times

“A remarkable act of scholarship. . . . A book about values. . . . Its reader should be prepared to be moved.” –The Atlantic Monthly

“A noble study, written in the grand manner.” –Geoffrey Wolff, Newsday

“A remarkable book, moving and intellectually rich, mixing scholarship and humanity as it explores the modern Supreme Court’s most important decision.” –Anthony Lewis

“A masterful storyteller. . . . Kluger finds heroes all along the way. . . . Embellished with captivating anecdotes . . . [and] engrossing character vignettes.” –St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“An exciting story of an American happening as important as the Revolution itself. . . . Superb narrative history.” –Kansas City Star

About

Simple Justice is the definitive history of the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education and the epic struggle for racial equality in this country. Combining intensive research with original interviews with surviving participants, Richard Kluger provides the fullest possible view of the human and legal drama in the years before 1954, the cumulative assaults on the white power structure that defended segregation, and the step-by-step establishment of a team of inspired black lawyers that could successfully challenge the law. Now, on the fiftieth anniversary of the unanimous Supreme Court decision that ended legal segregation, Kluger has updated his work with a new final chapter covering events and issues that have arisen since the book was first published, including developments in civil rights and recent cases involving affirmative action, which rose directly out of Brown v. Board of Education.

Author

© Michael Lionstar

Richard Kluger is the author of Ashes to Ashes: America's Hundred-Year Cigarette War, the Public Health, and the Unabashed Triumph of Philip Morris, which won the Pulitzer Prize. His Simple Justice: The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Black America's Struggle for Equality and The Paper: The Life and Death of the New York Herald Tribune both were finalists for the National Book Award. He is the author or coauthor of eight novels as well.

View titles by Richard Kluger

Awards

  • WINNER | 1977
    Anisfield-Wolf Book Award
  • WINNER | 1976
    Sidney Hillman Prize
  • FINALIST | 1976
    National Book Critics Circle Awards

Praise

“One of the most important books published in our American times. . . . A major accomplishment.” —Philadelphia Inquirer

“Extraordinary. . . . An outstanding piece of legal and social history.” —Washington Post

“A thought-provoking work that should become part of the standard literature on race relations.” —New York Times Book Review

“The definitive account, to date, of the struggle for black equality in America. . . . A monumental accomplishment.” —The Nation

“This huge, fascinating book . . . classic in its clarity and dimensions . . . should become part of our nation’s scriptures.” —Chicago Sun-Times

“An extraordinary research effort, and a major contribution to our understanding of the Supreme Court.” —Harvard Law Review

“A brilliant and powerful book.”–Bob Herbert, The New York Times

“A gripping story . . . epic history.” –Los Angeles Times

“A remarkable act of scholarship. . . . A book about values. . . . Its reader should be prepared to be moved.” –The Atlantic Monthly

“A noble study, written in the grand manner.” –Geoffrey Wolff, Newsday

“A remarkable book, moving and intellectually rich, mixing scholarship and humanity as it explores the modern Supreme Court’s most important decision.” –Anthony Lewis

“A masterful storyteller. . . . Kluger finds heroes all along the way. . . . Embellished with captivating anecdotes . . . [and] engrossing character vignettes.” –St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“An exciting story of an American happening as important as the Revolution itself. . . . Superb narrative history.” –Kansas City Star

Additional formats

  • Simple Justice
    Simple Justice
    The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Black America's Struggle for Equality
    Richard Kluger
    $28.95 US
    Paperback
    Apr 13, 2004
  • Simple Justice
    Simple Justice
    The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Black America's Struggle for Equality
    Richard Kluger
    $28.95 US
    Paperback
    Apr 13, 2004

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