People Wasn't Made to Burn

Name: People Wasn't Made to Burn
Brand: Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand
SKU: 9781642593754
Price: 39.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

A True Story of Housing, Race, and Murder in Chicago

By Joe Allen

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4.19

( 150 ratings, 23 reviews)

Summary

People Wasn't Made to Burn by Joe Allen presents a gripping historical account set in post-war Chicago, centred around the tragic story of a young African American family struggling against racial injustice and discrimination. The narrative delves into a devastating neighbourhood fire that raises poignant questions about systemic racism, justice, and the fight for civil rights. Through detailed storytelling, the book uncovers the harsh realities faced by many during this turbulent era in American history.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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People Wasn't Made to Burn

$39⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in exploring little-known historical events and social justice struggles, particularly those related to race and urban challenges in post-war America. It's a thought-provoking narrative that delves into the complexities of systemic issues, activism, and the resilience of communities.

The long-buried story of a Chicagoan's struggle for justice after four of his children perished in a tragic fire.

Description

In 1947, James Hickman shot and killed the landlord he believed was responsible for a tragic fire that took the lives of four of his children on Chicago's West Side. But a vibrant defence campaign, exposing the working poverty and racism that led to his crime, helped win Hickman's freedom.

With a true-crime writer's eye for suspense and a historian's depth of knowledge, Joe Allen unearths the compelling story of a campaign that stood up to Jim Crow well before the modern civil rights movement had even begun. As deteriorating housing conditions and an accelerating foreclosure crisis combine to form a hauntingly similar set of circumstances to those that led to the Hickman case, Allen's book restores to prominence a previously unknown story with profound relevance today.

People Wasn't Made to Burn is both a riveting historical narrative and a reminder of the deep-seated issues that continue to echo in contemporary society.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

People Wasn't Made to Burn by Joe Allen has been praised for its powerful storytelling and thorough historical research. Reviewers highlight the depiction of James Hickman's story, a striking example of resilience against racial injustice in post-war America. The book is acknowledged for shedding light on the harsh realities of racial segregation, economic exploitation, and the power of community activism to effect change, offering a poignant reminder of the fight for social justice.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781642593754

Publisher: Haymarket Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 December 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Haymarket Books

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 139.0mm

Height: 215.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 328

Collections

American & Canadian History Biography & Memoir Education & Reference History & Archaeology History & Military Joe Allen Non-Fiction True Crime

About the Author

Joe Allen worked for nearly a decade at UPS between its Watertown, Massachusetts and Chicago, Illinois Jefferson Street hubs. Starting out as a part-time loader he worked his way through a series of part-time sorting and driving jobs until his final year at UPS where he was a package car driver in Chicago's Loop. Allen's work life has largely revolved different sections of the freight and logistics including for such major employers as A.P.A Transport (Canton, Mass.), Yellow Freight (Maspeth, NY), and UPS. He has been a member of several Teamster local unions and a member of Teamsters for a Democratic Union. He campaigned for Ron Carey's reelection in 1996, and for Tom Leedham in the two following Teamster elections. Joe Allen lives in Chicago, IL.