American Oracle

David Blight

September 26, 2011

American Oracle: The Civil War in the Civil Rights Era by David Blight is an ambitious and riveting narrative of a nation struggling to come to terms with its civil war past amidst continuing racial and social conflict. Blight explores both the old view of the Civil War—a bloody and hopelessly chaotic conflict—as well as the contemporary interpretation of the war, highlighting the great social and political changes it catalyzed. Throughout the book, Blight details significant events and public figures involved in the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Civil Rights eras, providing a valuable perspective into how different generations have interpreted and remembered this difficult period.Beginning in the early 1960s, with the passage of the Civil Rights Act and the emergence of the civil rights movement, American Oracle follows the decade-long effort to provide African Americans with full civil rights. Blight examines the different philosophies that divided the country, tracing the struggles and resolution of the civil rights debates over the years. He also looks at the gradual integration of African Americans in the armed forces, and the story of the civil rights struggle in the south. Additionally, he covers the programs of the Great Society and their effect on civil rights efforts.Throughout the book, Blight provides details on the legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction, examining how the memory of those tumultuous times has provided a rallying point of sorts for both the civil rights movement and its opposition. With this thoughtful and engaging history, American Oracle: The Civil War in the Civil Rights Era provides a clear and inspirational portrait of the civil rights movement and its lasting impact on this nation.