They Left Great Marks on Me: African American Testimonies of Racial Violence from Emancipation to World War I

The book "They Left Great Marks on Me" by Kidada Williams is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the everyday violence experienced by emancipated African Americans after slavery was abolished.

Through a powerful blend of oral and print culture, victims and witnesses of racial violence testified about their experiences, creating a vernacular history of the violence they endured and witnessed.

This history fostered an oppositional consciousness to racial violence that inspired African Americans to form campaigns to end it, ultimately leading to the civil rights movement.

With a focus on the period between the Civil War and the First World War, Williams provides a fresh perspective on the legacy of slavery and its lasting impact on American society.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex history of race relations in America and the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.