"Fire in a Canebrake"

Paper Summary:

Laura Wexler's novel, "Fire in a Canebrake: The Last Mass Lynching in America", describes the events surrounding the infamous Moore Ford lynching, where a crowd of white men executed two black men and two black women. This paper examines how, in the book, Wexler describes the political and racial climate of the time and creates a disturbing portrait of an America that is clearly divided by race. The paper shows how simmering undercurrents of racial tension are described in this portrayal of the Moore's Ford lynching, revealing the powerful impact of both race and violence.

From the Paper:

"The killings in Walton County became national news, notes Wexler, and even spurred President Harry Truman to emphasize the importance of the civil rights movement. Despite this intense scrutiny and publicity, law enforcement officials were unable to identify the killers. To this day, Wexler notes that no individuals have been convicted of the killings, and yet officials continue to search for the killers. In 2001, the governor of Georgia offered a reward for information that led to the arrest of those responsible for the lynchings. Wexler notes that several of the original suspects are still alive, and that there is no statue of limitations on the crime of murder."

More papers on "Fire in a Canebrake":

• Book Review # 117404 : "Analysis of "Fire In a Canebrake"
• Book Review # 116204 : "Fire In a Canebrake" and Brutal Crime"
• Analytical Essay # 55235 : "Fire in a Canebrake: The Last Mass Lynching in America"

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