I wholeheartedly recognise the white privilege that I have, which is why I try so so hard to educate myself on different matters; whether it be race, religion or politics...

This book is probably one the most eye-opening books that I have ever read. It educated me in what actually happened in Selma and taught me just how lucky I am. I urge everyone to read this book and take note, because the way that society treats people of colour today, is not really that much different to how we did then...

A must read. Very informative and thought provoking. I will be buying this book for my niece. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

Three years ago I visited Selma and left a piece of my heart there. To see such an important location relegated to poverty and remembered once a year for a photo op on the Edmund Pettus Bridge was heartbreaking. When I saw this book I was excited to read it, I was over the moon when I was approved, and read it over a weekend. This paints a through picture of what likes was life before the pivotal march that led to the Voting Rights Act, but how little life has changed for the people of Selma in the 50 years that have passed since.

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Why the Vote Wasn't Enough for Selma
by Karlyn Forner
Duke University Press

Duke University Press Books
History , Nonfiction (Adult)
Pub Date 13 Oct 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Why the Vote Wasn't Enough for Selma through Duke University Press and Netgalley:

In this book Karolyn Forner shows us that the vote did not equate to economic justice for African Americans in Selma.

In the Selma Morning Times Colonel W.W Quarles the Son in law of banker Washington pointed out that 95 percent of servants were black and ninety nine percent of household tasks were performed by black servants, going on to blame the servants for bringing disease, sickness, even filth. Despite the facts that the white workers had similar outbreaks of Small Pix as well.

In 1925 a small group of both White and African American farm workers set out to better equalize that industry.

In 1929 Amelia Platts headed by train to Dallas County to begin her job as the African American home demonstration agent.

From segregation to prejudice, Jim Crow, share cropping, activism, Why the Vote Wasn’t Enough For Selma is well written and researched, and is deserving of five out of five stars.

Happy Reading!

Karlyn Forner has written a book that looks at the big picture in which Selma and the right to vote were contextualized.
Selma was supposed to be a major step forward in the fight for racial equality, but was in reality another step in a long march that continues today.
Forner situates racism in economic terms. These economic terms continue today - the poverty, lack of work, and limited access to resources - and they continue to haunt African-American communities.
Selma's citizens were in a state of flux as the economy changed from one of cotton to one of animal husbandry. African-Americans were the hardest hit.
The dream that the legislation allowing African-Americans to vote in Selma was not to be.
Forner is honest in her reflection and the book is richer for her copious sources.

This will make wonderful addition too are growing black history section . Brillant writing and history lesson