Suppression of Civil Liberties-while we may not explicitly be experiencing it to the level our country men an women have in the past, we are being listened to and being watched without warrant. de Bois-any suggestions? While Black regiments were dodging bullets and raising the American flag in victory in the trenches of Europe, they come home to the bullets of angry white mons and they themselves being raised by rope in a tree-some in their uniforms. I really want to get my hands on a good book about W.E.B.

Thankfully, Hochschild shows us some of the good people working hard to right the wrongs. Of course, this book doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface-this is only a little window from 1917-1921. The problem is that people know they have been but they don’t truly understand to what extent and the morbid details. Black citizens of this country have been poorly treated.

Racism-my god, Hochschild’s accounts of the rampant racism/lynchings will make your skin crawl. The groups that popped up to ensure everyone fell into line-like the American Protective League-reminds me of groups like the Proud Boys or Oath Keepers that twist their patriotism to justify violence against dissidents. To be that red-blooded, masculine American man-you got behind the war effort, you bought liberty bonds, you did your part for the war (and you dare not question it). Sound familiar? It was the same in this window of time Hochschild brings us on a journey through. Hyper patriotism/Americanism/nativism-have you heard seen MAGA supporters, their Rallies, and their candidates?! Don’t go against grain or you’re cast aside, watched, or black listed. Xenophobia still infects society today-we just target a different group. There were a few good apples-Wisconsin’s very own Senator Robert LaFollette and Assistant Secretary Louis Post. Xenophobia-why do we hate immigrants so much? Why do we associate them with crime, taking our jobs, bringing radicalism, trying to overthrow our government? Well, Hochschild essentially shows immigrants were low hanging fruit for politicians for their own ambitions and corrupt bureaucrats to maintain budgets and climb the ladder. People say history rhymes-in this case it has! Everything I read I saw parallels with our time. What a great read-and everyone should read this. American Midnight: The Great War, A Violent Peace, and Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis

American midnight the great war