This is a readable but in depth look at the riots that erupted in Washington DC after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr and their aftermath. We start with the background to the riots, including how DC is governed, the demographics of the city, and the feel of various neighborhoods.

Then the chaos of the riots themselves takes center stage. This is not merely violence and looting, with context and background given to the multiple incidents that begin or are averted to the development of a specific identity. But Sommers also includes the farcical element that comes with chaos, such as when the head of the army is driving around to find a payphone with a dial tone so he can say that yes, the president should call in the troops.

Then there is the immediate fallout - what happened to everyone who got arrested? People whose homes or businesses were destroyed? How were the events used to shape opposing views ("thugs" behaving badly? normal behavior under oppression? etc)

Sommers then tracks DC from the riots to now. Johnson's Great Society appears, fails in many many ways, mass incarceration,

I study and teach this period, but can honestly say that I learned so much with this one! I have already included excerpts for one group of students to cover. Her lively descriptions had students looking for maps of DC. This one created that student led learning that education is chasing after