In 'Devil in the Grove,' Gilbert King unravels the harrowing true story of a wrongful conviction in the racially charged South of the 1940s. At the center of this gripping narrative is the tragic case of a young black man accused of a crime he didn't commit, set against the backdrop of a community steeped in prejudice. King masterfully portrays the tireless efforts of legendary lawyer Thurgood Marshall as he fights against injustice, challenging a corrupt system. With vivid characters and a relentless pursuit of truth, the book reveals how this pivotal moment shaped the civil rights movement. Prepare to be captivated by a tale of courage, resilience, and the dark undercurrents of American history.
By Gilbert King
Published: 2013
""In the face of injustice, silence is complicity; we must find our voice, even when it shakes.""
A gripping true story of racism, murder, rape, and the law, Devil in the Grove brings to light one of the most dramatic court cases in American history, and offers a rare and revealing portrait of Thurgood Marshall that the world has never seen before. As Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns did for the story of America’s black migration, Gilbert King’s Devil in the Grove does for this great untold story of American legal history, a dangerous and uncertain case from the days immediately before Brown v. Board of Education in which the young civil rights attorney Marshall risked his life to defend a boy slated for the electric chair—saving him, against all odds, from being sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit.
Gilbert King is an acclaimed American author best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning work, 'Devil in the Grove', which explores the injustices faced by African Americans in the Jim Crow South. His writing style is characterized by meticulous research and compelling narrative that brings historical figures and events to life. King also authored 'Bone by Bone: Dishonesty and Memory in the Age of Trump' and 'The Execution of Willie Francis', both of which showcase his ability to intertwine history with contemporary issues. Through his evocative storytelling and deep commitment to social justice, King engages readers while shedding light on critical historical narratives.
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“"In the face of injustice, silence is complicity; we must find our voice, even when it shakes."”
Devil in the Grove
By Gilbert King
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