{"product_id":"beaches-blood-and-ballots-a-black-doctors-civil-rights-struggle-paperback","title":"Beaches, Blood, and Ballots: A Black Doctor's Civil Rights Struggle - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eGilbert R. Mason\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eJames Patterson Smith\u003c\/b\u003e (With)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book, the first to focus on the integration of the Gulf Coast, is Dr. Gilbert R. Mason's eyewitness account of harrowing episodes that occurred there during the civil rights movement. Newly opened by court order, documents from the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission's secret files enhance this riveting memoir written by a major civil rights figure in Mississippi. He joined his friends and allies Aaron Henry and the martyred Medgar Evers to combat injustices in one of the nation's most notorious bastions of segregation. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In Mississippi, the civil rights struggle began in May 1959 with \"wade-ins.\" In open and conscious defiance of segregation laws, Mason led nine black Biloxians onto a restricted spot along the twenty-six-mile beach. A year later more wade-ins on beaches reserved for whites set off the bloodiest race riot in the state's history and led the U.S. Justice Department to initiate the first-ever federal court challenge of Mississippi's segregationist laws and practices. Simultaneously, Mason and local activists began their work on the state's first school desegregation suit. As the coordinator of the strategy, he faced threats to his life. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Mason's memoir gives readers a documented journey through the daily humiliations that segregation and racism imposed upon the black populace--upon fathers, mothers, children, laborers, and professionals. Born in 1928 in the slums of Jackson, Mason acknowledges the impact of his strong extended family and of the supportive system of institutions in the black neighborhood. They nurtured him to manhood and helped fulfill his dream of becoming a physician. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e His story recalls the great migration of blacks to the North, of family members who remained in Mississippi, of family ties in Chicago and other northern cities. Following graduation from Tennessee State University and Howard University Medical College, he set up his practice in the black section of Biloxi in 1955 and experienced the restrictions that even a black physician suffered in the segregated South. Four years later, he began his battle to dismantle the Jim Crow system. This is the story of his struggle and hard-won victory.\u003ch3\u003eFront Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe book, the first to focus on the integration of the Gulf Coast, is a riveting memoir by Mason, a major civil rights figure in Mississippi who fought with Medgar Evers, Aaron Henry, and others to combat the injustice of segregation. --Mississippi History Newsletter\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA frontline memoir from the Biloxi physician who fought to bring civil rights justice to the Mississippi Gulf Coast\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book, the first to focus on the integration of the Gulf Coast, is Dr. Gilbert R. Mason's eyewitness account of harrowing episodes that occurred there during the civil rights movement. Newly opened by court order, documents from the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission's secret files enhance this riveting memoir written by a major civil rights figure in Mississippi. He joined his friends and allies Aaron Henry and the martyred Medgar Evers to combat injustices in one of the nation's most notorious bastions of segregation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Mississippi, the civil rights struggle began in May 1959 with \"wade-ins\". In open and conscious defiance of segregation laws, Mason led nine black Biloxians onto a restricted spot along the twenty-six-mile beach. A year later more wade-ins on beaches reserved for whites set off the bloodiest race riot in the state's history and led the U.S. Justice Department to initiate the first-ever federal court challenge of Mississippi segregationist laws and practices. Simultaneously, Mason and local activists began their work on the state's first school desegregation suit. As the coordinator of the strategy, he faced threats to his life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMason's memoir gives readers a documented journey through the daily humiliations that segregation and racism imposed upon the black populace -- upon fathers, mothers, children, laborers, and professionals. This excerpt is from the chapter \"Ballots, Beaches, Bullets\" and takes place in 1960 at the height of the struggle when victory is close at hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGilbert R. Mason, M.D.\u003c\/b\u003e (1928-2006) was a practicing physician in Biloxi, Mississippi. Although a life-long Democrat, he served as a school-desegregation adviser to the Republican administration of President Nixon, as well as a friend, adviser, and appointee of several Mississippi governors. \u003cb\u003eJames Patterson Smith\u003c\/b\u003e is an associate professor of history at the University of Southern Mississippi. He has published in numerous periodicals, including the \u003ci\u003eJournal of Negro History\u003c\/i\u003e and the \u003ci\u003eJournal of Mississippi History\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 264\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.6 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 01, 2000\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44270276673638,"sku":"9781934110287","price":53.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0599\/7255\/0758\/files\/RFJDbWVnRTNhMnRYWkVGRENNWkJMdz09.webp?v=1766265464","url":"https:\/\/infinitylightwa.com\/products\/beaches-blood-and-ballots-a-black-doctors-civil-rights-struggle-paperback","provider":"Infinity Light","version":"1.0","type":"link"}