48 pages • 1 hour read
David W. BlightRace and Reunion
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2001A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Race and Reunion by David W. Blight explores the competing themes of racial equality and sectional reunion in the 50 years following the Civil War, using firsthand accounts to contrast emancipationist views with reconciliationist and white supremacist memories. Blight details how Southern narratives, such as the "Lost Cause," were adopted and how this influenced historical memory, ultimately leading to the suppression of Black civil rights and the rise of white supremacist ideologies.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
David W. Blight's Race and Reunion is highly acclaimed for its thorough examination of Civil War memory and the politics of reconciliation. Reviewers praise its deep research and compelling narrative. Though some find it dense and repetitive, the consensus highlights Blight's critical insights into historical memory and race relations, making it a pivotal scholarly work.
Who Should Read Race and Reunion?
Readers interested in the Civil War, Reconstruction, and American memory will appreciate David W. Blight's Race and Reunion. Those who enjoyed Eric Foner's Reconstruction or James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom will find similar in-depth analysis and engaging narrative in Blight's work.