Calamity of Souls


This David Baldacci book is actually two books.  The date is 1968.  It tells the story of Jack Lee, a white lawyer in Southern Virginia, who is talked into representing Jerome Washington, a Black man charged with brutally killing an elderly, wealthy white couple for whom he worked.   

Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer from Chicago who has devoted her life to furthering the causes of justice and equality for everyone. She comes to Freeman County and enters a partnership with Lee in a legal battle against the best prosecutor in the Commonwealth and a judge who is a former member of the KKK.

In addition to the actual story of investigating the murder charges, this book shows how terrible life is for Black residents in the area.  At one point, DuBose goes into a Catholic church to pray and is ordered out by the monsignor because no n_____ can enter his church.  Both attorneys face threats to their lives, Jack's office is burned down. 

If you think you know how bad it was, this will show you that it's much worse.

 

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