New Book: Justice Older than the Law

Justice Older than the Law: The Life of Dovey Johnson Roundtree tells the story of a groundbreaking civil rights crusader, lawyer, and ordained minister. This book is now available from UPM.

The product of an extraordinary ten year collaboration between National Magazine Award winner Katie McCabe and Roundtree, Justice Older than the Law illuminates both the personal journey of one unstoppable woman and the larger story of the nation's struggle for social justice.

Inspired by Thurgood Marshall and James Madison Nabrit, Jr., Roundtree went on to make history by winning a 1955 bus desegregation case, Sarah Keys v. Carolina Coach Company. That decision demolished "separate but equal" in the realm of interstate transportation and enabled Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to combat southern resistance to the Freedom Riders' campaign in 1961.

At a time when black attorneys had to leave the courthouses to use the bathrooms, Roundtree took on Washington's white legal establishment and prevailed. She led the vanguard of women ordained to the ministry in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1961 and merged her law practice with her ministry to fight for families and children being destroyed by urban violence.

Katie McCabe will be signing copies of her new book on July 18 at Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington D.C. For the latest news, information, and reviews please visit www.justiceolderthanthelaw.com.

Susan Larson reflects on Carville, LA

Susan Larson of the Times Picayune has a great article on the legacy behind the National Hansen's Disease Museum in Carville, La. From 1894-1999 the grounds were used as a treatment center for people with the long-misunderstood disease.

Larson calls on Jose Ramirez, Jr., author of Squint: My Journey with Leprosy, to help bring this forgotten era to light. Ramirez was taken to Carville as a patient when he was only 20. Squint is a painfully honest chronicle of life as a patient there and his triumphs after his release.

I was healing for a long period," he said by phone from his office in Houston. "I go back to Carville a minimum of twice a year. Magdalena (his wife) and I stay at the facility. We visit with the 15 residents there. They all call me son. They were the age of my parents when I got there, and now they're elderly.

"It's become a second home. When I was there, all I could think of was how much I wanted to get out, but I could appreciate the beauty of all the people there."

Squint is now available from UPM. For more information on the book and its author visit www.leprosyjourney.com

Praise for Blues Traveling

John Miller has some nice words for Steve Cheseborough's updated 3rd edition of Blues Traveling: The Holy Sites of the Delta Blues over at Weenie Cambell. Despite the name, Weenie Campbell is a serious site dedicated to "preserving country blues through education, performance, and technology."

From the review...

Blues Traveling goes much farther than simply reciting the names of places of interest and telling how to get to them, though. It also provides guidance for negotiating the culture that travelers will encounter in the course of such a trip, what can be expected in the way of food and accomodations, and how to comport yourself while on the trip so that Mississipians will be glad to see you again should you ever decide to re-visit the area.

And...

Taken in sum, though, Blues Traveling does an admirable job at what it sets out to do, and is a fascinating read both for blues fans planning to make a trip to the Delta and to those who probably will never make the trip. The best travel literature works equally well for travelers and homebodies, and by that standard, Blues Traveling succeeds in spades.

Blues Traveling is available from UPM now and makes the perfect companion for a roadtrip through Mississippi.

Weenie Campbell also has a review Cheseborough's country blues album, Fetch It!. Find out more at stevecheseborough.com

Highway 51: Mississippi Hill Country

Gloria Norris, author of Highway 51: Mississippi Hill Country, held a book release party and signing at Books in Grenada. The Grenada Daily Star has a nice feature piece on Norris and her new book. The event was the most successful author appearance ever at Books.

Highway 51 features ninety color photographs taken along the historic route that runs parallel to Interstate 55 and Norris has managed to capture the highway, the landmarks, the beautiful yet rugged scenery, the people, and their music.

I wanted people to be able to see Highway 51 -- its places, ways and people,” she said. “For one thing, it’s extremely beautiful, but it’s also about the people, because they are so brave and proud. In and out of Mississippi, people know about the Delta and its culture,” she said. “A lot of people don’t even know what the hill country is. It’s an area full of good people who know how to overcome hardships and survive.

Gloria Norris will also be signing copies of Highway 51 at the following times and locations:

June 17, Square Books in Oxford, MS at 5 p.m.
June 19, Turnrow Books in Greenwood, MS at 5:30 p.m.
June 20, Lemuria Books in Jackson, MS at 11 a.m.

View slideshow of photographs from Highway 51 at Garden & Gun Magazine.