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Down Along with That Devil's Bones

Down Along with That Devil's Bones

2020 • 262 pages

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Average rating4

15

This was an eye opening read because I had heard of Nathan Bedford Forrest but didn't know much about him. It was fascinating how the author takes the story of activists trying to get this KKK grand wizard's monuments down (and his supporters efforts to stop it from happening) across four different places, to give a scathing commentary on how all this discourse is more about people trying to cling onto their racist ideals rather than some perceived Southern heritage. He also gives some backstory about Forrest himself and how this slaveholder came to be such a popular figure in confederate America.

But ultimately it's not completely a hopeful book despite being written brilliantly. The efforts of all the people trying to bring down these monuments is highly commendable but they do seem to be having many setbacks which is depressing; but more sad is the immense racial divisions and hate that exist, the willful ignorance regards to understanding actual history of the country, and not really having a clear idea how it can be solved. But that's not the book's fault and I definitely recommend the audiobook which is very well narrated.

November 5, 2020Report this review