The Struggle for Change - (Carter G. Woodson Institute) by Marvin T Chiles (Paperback)
About this item
Highlights
- A Black-majority city with a history of the most severe segregation and inequity, Richmond is still grappling with this legacy as it moves into the twenty-first century.
- About the Author: Marvin T. Chiles is Assistant Professor of History at Old Dominion University.
- 342 Pages
- History, United States
- Series Name: Carter G. Woodson Institute
Description
About the Book
"A Black-majority city with a history of the most severe segregation and inequity, Richmond is still grappling with this legacy as it moves into the twenty-first century. Marvin Chiles provides a unique take on Richmond's racial politics since the civil rights era by demonstrating that the city's current racial disparities in economic mobility, housing, and public education actually represent the unintended consequences of Richmond's racial reconciliation measures. Weaving municipal politics together with grassroots efforts and examining the work and legacies of Richmond's Black leaders, Chiles highlights the urban revitalization and public history efforts meant to overcome racial divides after Jim Crow-efforts that ironically reinforced racial inequality across the city. Compellingly written, this project carries both local and broader regional significance for Richmonders, Virginians, southerners, and all Americans"--Book Synopsis
A Black-majority city with a history of the most severe segregation and inequity, Richmond is still grappling with this legacy as it moves into the twenty-first century. Marvin Chiles now offers a unique take on Richmond's racial politics since the civil rights era by demonstrating that the city's current racial disparities in economic mobility, housing, and public education actually represent the unintended consequences of Richmond's racial reconciliation measures. He deftly weaves municipal politics together with grassroots efforts, examining the work and legacies of Richmond's Black leaders, from Henry Marsh on the city council in the 1960s to Mayor Levar Stoney, to highlight the urban revitalization and public history efforts meant to overcome racial divides after Jim Crow yet which ironically reinforced racial inequality across the city. Compellingly written, this project carries both local and broader regional significance for Richmonders, Virginians, southerners, and all Americans.
Review Quotes
The Struggle for Change sits at the nexus of urban history, southern history, and research on the long civil rights movement, while challenging some of the prevailing arguments in these fields . . . [readers] will come away from the book with a better understanding of Richmond, the South, and America since the civil rights movement.--Register of the Kentucky Historical Society
Marvin Chiles tells a rich, humane, and powerful story of a city confronting profound change and persistent challenge. He does so with deep research and compelling characters stretching across generations.
--Edward L. Ayers, University of Richmond, author of The Thin Light of Freedom: The Civil War and Emancipation in the Heart of AmericaTimely! Richmond is at an inflection point, and this explains how we got where we are. The Courage to Change reimagines Richmond's history by thinking intently on how actual people shape and reimagine government
--Julian Maxwell Hayter, University of Richmond, author of The Dream Is Lost: Voting Rights and the Politics of Race in Richmond, VirginiaAbout the Author
Marvin T. Chiles is Assistant Professor of History at Old Dominion University.