Listen to a sample
White Men’s Law
- Author
- Peter Irons
- Narrator
- Lamarr Gulley
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 26 April 2022
- Run Time
- 14 hours 19 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
A searing—and sobering—account of the legal and extra-legal means by which systemic white racism has kept Black Americans ‘in their place’ from slavery to police and vigilante killings of Black men and women, from 1619 to the present.
From the arrival of the first English settlers in America until now—a span of four centuries—a minority of white men have created, managed, and perpetuated their control of every major institution, public and private, in American society. And no group in America has suffered more from the harms imposed by white men’s laws than Blacks, with punishment by law often replaced by extra-legal means. Over the centuries, thousands of victims have been murdered by lynching, white mobs, and appalling massacres.
In White Men’s Law, the eminent scholar Peter Irons makes a powerful and persuasive case that Blacks have always been held back by systemic racism in all major institutions that can hold power over them. Based on a wide range of sources, from the painful words of former slaves to test scores that reveal how our education system has failed Black children, this searing and sobering account of legal and extra-legal violence against Blacks peels away the fictions and myths expressed by white racists. The centerpiece of Irons’ account is a 1935 lynching in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The episode produced a photograph of a blonde white girl of about seven looking at the hanging, bullet-riddled body of Rubin Stacy, who was accused of assaulting a white woman. After analyzing this gruesome murder and the visual evidence left behind, Irons poses a foundational question: What historical forces preceded and followed this lynching to spark resistance to Jim Crow segregation, especially in schools that had crippled Black children with inferior education? The answers are rooted in the systemic racism—especially in the institutions of law and education—that Blacks, and growing numbers of white allies, are demanding be dismantled in tangible ways.
A thought-provoking look at systemic racism and the legal systems that built it, White Men’s Law is an essential contribution to this painful but necessary debate.
Critics Review
-
“Mesmerizing and electrifying. Like all of Peter Irons’ prodigious work, White Men’s Law is anchored in scrupulous research and painstaking historical perspective. But this new work is achingly poignant. It is the story of our nation told through law and legal struggle. Every sentence calls out for truth and justice.”
Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-8), Member, House Judiciary Committee, Lead Impeachment Manager in the second impeachment of Donald Trump
-
“A well-organized, revealing outline of the ‘reign of White Men’s Law’ in America and a forceful call for ongoing reform.”
Kirkus Reviews
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Peter Irons
- Narrator
- Lamarr Gulley
- Duration
- 14 hours 19 minutes
- Release Date
- 26 April 2022
- ISBN
- 9798200855414
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- History of the Americas
Synopsis
A searing—and sobering—account of the legal and extra-legal means by which systemic white racism has kept Black Americans ‘in their place’ from slavery to police and vigilante killings of Black men and women, from 1619 to the present.From the arrival of the first English settlers in America until now—a span of four centuries—a minority of white men have created, managed, and perpetuated their control of every major institution, public and private, in American society. And no group in America has suffered more from the harms imposed by white men’s laws than Blacks, with punishment by law often replaced by extra-legal means. Over the centuries, thousands of victims have been murdered by lynching, white mobs, and appalling massacres.In White Men’s Law, the eminent scholar Peter Irons makes a powerful and persuasive case that Blacks have always been held back by systemic racism in all major institutions that can hold power over them. Based on a wide range of sources, from the painful words of former slaves to test scores that reveal how our education system has failed Black children, this searing and sobering account of legal and extra-legal violence against Blacks peels away the fictions and myths expressed by white racists. The centerpiece of Irons’ account is a 1935 lynching in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The episode produced a photograph of a blonde white girl of about seven looking at the hanging, bullet-riddled body of Rubin Stacy, who was accused of assaulting a white woman. After analyzing this gruesome murder and the visual evidence left behind, Irons poses a foundational question: What historical forces preceded and followed this lynching to spark resistance to Jim Crow segregation, especially in schools that had crippled Black children with inferior education? The answers are rooted in the systemic racism—especially in the institutions of law and education—that Blacks, and growing numbers of white allies, are demanding be dismantled in tangible ways.A thought-provoking look at systemic racism and the legal systems that built it, White Men’s Law is an essential contribution to this painful but necessary debate.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.