Redemption, Cruel Truths of Reconstruction

The book by Nicholas Lemann Redemption goes into detail about some of the harsh realities of post-war America. While most non historians are of the opinion that Reconstruction was the rebuilding and strengthening of the South after the war, they leave out the cruel treatment of ex-slaves and republicans. The Redemption book reveals several instances where ex-slaves were legally elected into public office, but because of terroristic pressures later during Reconstruction, they were forced to give up their positions and settle on a role not so much different than slavery. Blacks were killed as though foreign invaders by democrats and former political powers. The rights that were given to blacks by the Constitution did not protect them from the violence and I wonder who is mostly to blame? At first I want to blame government for not enforcing laws that were already written, but I must accept that enforcement and the possibility of another war was not popular with most of the country. Adelbert Ames seemed to be using Mississippi as a stepping stone to later political goals, but it I think that he did try to promote freedom for blacks within his powers. Republican corruption and a lack of concern from the Federal Government on the issue of civil rights were just some of the problems faced by ex-slaves. Radical democrats were not going to give up their powers quickly or easily. Hatred ran deep for people that were forced to change their way of life and the outcomes of the war only worsened their feelings. It took three or four generations of southerners and northerners to change their opinions of blacks and accept civil rights and desegregation. So possibly the violence spoke of in the book was bound to happen regardless of intervention. Still today I feel that it is important to study these harsh reminders mentioned in the book and not be too quick to judge past generations of their mistakes, but learn from them and surely avoid repeating them. Redemption is definitely not a fun book to read, but such bloody truth seldom is.