On the evening of June 15, 1920, in Duluth, Minnesota, three young black men, accused of the rape of a white woman, were pulled from their jail cells and lynched by a mob numbering in the thousands. Michael Fedo, a former journalist, tells the story in a clear, sober manner, weaving a skilful narrative. Using newspaper accounts, court records, state files, and interviews with ageing and often reluctant witnesses, he recounts the small but telling stories of individual participants and observers -- both blacks and whites -- in a manner that casts them as ordinary people caught up in an extraordinary moments of violence and hatred. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the lynching of black men was typically a rural, southern phenomenon. This account of the Duluth lynchings shows that the mentality necessary for such events was not particular to any region.

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This tragedy could have happened in any state in the country and it would be harsh to say the events of June 1920 suggest that Duluth folk were uniquely bad amongst the people of the North. A set of chance occurrences came together at that moment in that place with consequences that reflect badly on the entire nation in that era. If Duluth is stained by the murders it is as much for the shameful cover-up (the collective amnesia that allowed three victims to lie forgotten for so many decades) as for the events of eighty years ago. Fedo deserves a lot of credit for excavating this episode from his town's past.

9 of 9 found the following review helpful:

A look at the dark underbelly of MinnesotaMar 03, 2005
By Red Xala "~23~"
Much like the public hanging of 38 Dakota in Mankato, MN, the 1920 lynchings that took place in Duluth were part of a dark piece of the state's history that were tacitly buried--almost to the point of being forgotten. Fortunately, Michael Fedo wrote this somewhat comprehensive account of the events and social conditions that culminated in this abhorrent outburst. Unfortunately, the citation is minimal and a couple of key names were changed to protect the people involved; Fedo, a Duluth native himself, originally wrote this book in 1979 (to a lukewarm reception) and seems to have been a bit wary of upsetting people who were involved in the incident and still alive at the time. However, despite these shortcomings, this is one of the only books that documents the lynchings of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie on June 15, 1920, and the trials that followed. (The only other book that I could find that gives a detailed account of the lynchings is John Bessler's LEGACY OF VIOLENCE--much of his material is cited from Fedo's book).

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:

A Sense of UnderstandingApr 04, 2003
By Brian Bailey
When I was growing up in the Duluth area, I had heard references to this event in the city's past, but no one seemed to know much of anything about it. Finally, I see and understand more clearly what happened that night in June 1920.

I also feel now that I understand the city of Duluth better than I did before I read this book. I always thought that there was a black cloud over the city, but only those who have lived in the city all their lives seemed to be in tune with it. I now see that intense skepticism, lack of passion, and a touch of guilt had been passed down to future generations without those persons even realizing it. I hope that with a memorial on the spot where this tragic event occured that the healing can begin.

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:

A disturbing family secretNov 30, 2001

I stumbled upon this while doing research on my family--imagine my shock to discover my great-grandfather's name mentioned several times in this book. My mother and I read it apprehensively, unsure of what we would discover. My mother worried that her "pa" would be portrayed as a monster, but Mr. Fedo's writing is factual, fair and honoring of the era's perspective. Disturbing and horrifying, I appreciate this valuable document as a lesson in humanity and a testament to how even the most upstanding, warm people can be capable of abhorrent things.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

Reads like a mystery thriller!Sep 28, 2010
By Bradley Nelson
This is such a fascinating story! I'm a Minnesotan, so I was drawn to this unique and tragic event, but this book will likely pique the interest of anyone. From the very beginning, this book is an incredible and sometimes unbelievable tale. After the first couple chapters, this book moves at an incredible pace and becomes a page-turner. Once Fedo begins telling the story of the riots, you will not be able to put this book down.

Some might criticize this book for lacking citations or not providing more contextual information or analysis. But this book is much more approachable to the common reader. And that's the whole point. The message of this book is so important that it needs to be an easy and accessible read. Even those who aren't that into history will enjoy this book. It's a sad and tragic tale and it definitely causes one to think about our attitudes towards other groups of people.

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