Harper Barnes is a longtime editor and cultural critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and has written for the Atlantic Monthly, Rolling Stone and the Washington Post. He is the author of Blue Monday and The Life and Times of David Rowland Francis. Barnes lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
"A sobering look at white-black history in this country and how it
informs race relations today...Barnes brings fresh light to a
troubling past that white Americans would prefer to forget and
black Americans cannot." --Scott Martelle, Los Angeles Times"There
is a secret history of American race relations, things they never
taught us in school--the wanton terrorism visited upon
African-Americans by white mobs from the end of the civil war to
the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. Harper Barnes
takes one of the very worst episodes--the East St. Louis race riot
of 1917--and uses it to illuminate and exorcise a past that we need
to confront. This is a very important book, heartbreaking and
riveting, history that is as fresh as today's news." --Joe Klein,
Time Magazine columnist"You put Never Been a Time down and think,
'How can I imagine myself an educated American and not know this?'
A terrifying account, by a masterful writer." --Paul Solman,
economics correspondent for the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer"Never Been
a Time uncovers one of those buried chapters in our country's
defining narrative of race and vividly lays out the nexus of
economic desperation, corporate ruthlessness and racial antagonism
that resulted in what Gunnar Myrdal called this 'mass lynching' in
the American heartland. Harper Barnes is a natural reporter and an
extremely elegant writer." --Diane McWhorter, author of Carry Me
Home and A Dream of Freedom"America's worst race riots are pivotal
moments in the nation's history with a great deal to teach us.
Barnes skillfully places this shocking and important story in its
full historical context and conveys a powerful sense of place: the
dangerous streets and vice dens of East St. Louis, the foul winds
from the smokestacks and slaughterhouses, and the city's toxic stew
of greed, corruption, labor competition, and racism. Never Been a
Time vividly recounts a horrifying massacre, but it is also a
testament to human resilience, a celebration of a city that against
all odds has produced so many famous cultural figures and drawn
them back home to fight for its survival and its children's
future." --Barnet Schecter, author of The Devil's Own Work"Harper
Barnes has written a brilliant account of a tragic event in the
American experience. He places the bloody East St. Louis Race Riot
in its historical national context--demonstrating that it was more
than an explosion of local pressures, but also a violent
intersection of larger societal forces. He does a fine job
synthesizing existing scholarly literature and the latest academic
analyses alongside his own primary work. This well-researched and
cogently-written book makes a meaningful contribution to the
understanding of the infamous 1917 riot as well as race relations
generally, and deserves the attention of scholars and citizens
alike." --Andrew J. Theising, Ph.D., director of the Institute for
Urban Research, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and
author of Made in USA: East St. Louis
A sobering look at white-black history in this country and how it
informs race relations today...Barnes brings fresh light to a
troubling past that white Americans would prefer to forget and
black Americans cannot. "Scott Martelle, Los Angeles Times" There
is a secret history of American race relations, things they never
taught us in school--the wanton terrorism visited upon
African-Americans by white mobs from the end of the civil war to
the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. Harper Barnes
takes one of the very worst episodes--the East St. Louis race riot
of 1917--and uses it to illuminate and exorcise a past that we need
to confront. This is a very important book, heartbreaking and
riveting, history that is as fresh as today's news. "Joe Klein,
Time Magazine columnist" You put "Never Been a Time" down and
think, How can I imagine myself an educated American and not know
this?' A terrifying account, by a masterful writer. "Paul Solman,
economics correspondent for the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" "Never
Been a Time" uncovers one of those buried chapters in our country's
defining narrative of race and vividly lays out the nexus of
economic desperation, corporate ruthlessness and racial antagonism
that resulted in what Gunnar Myrdal called this mass lynching' in
the American heartland. Harper Barnes is a natural reporter and an
extremely elegant writer. "Diane McWhorter, author of Carry Me Home
and A Dream of Freedom" America's worst race riots are pivotal
moments in the nation's history with a great deal to teach us.
Barnes skillfully places this shocking and important story in its
full historical context and conveys a powerful sense of place: the
dangerous streets and vice dens of East St. Louis, the foul winds
from the smokestacks and slaughterhouses, and the city's toxic stew
of greed, corruption, labor competition, and racism. "Never Been a
Time" vividly recounts a horrifying massacre, but it is also a
testament to human resilience, a celebration of a city that against
all odds has produced so many famous cultural figures and drawn
them back home to fight for its survival and its children's future.
"Barnet Schecter, author of The Devil's Own Work" Harper Barnes has
written a brilliant account of a tragic event in the American
experience. He places the bloody East St. Louis Race Riot in its
historical national context--demonstrating that it was more than an
explosion of local pressures, but also a violent intersection of
larger societal forces. He does a fine job synthesizing existing
scholarly literature and the latest academic analyses alongside his
own primary work. This well-researched and cogently-written book
makes a meaningful contribution to the understanding of the
infamous 1917 riot as well as race relations generally, and
deserves the attention of scholars and citizens alike. "Andrew J.
Theising, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Urban Research,
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and author of Made in
USA: East St. Louis""
"A sobering look at white-black history in this country and how it
informs race relations today...Barnes brings fresh light to a
troubling past that white Americans would prefer to forget and
black Americans cannot."--Scott Martelle, "Los Angeles""
Times""There is a secret history of American race relations, things
they never taught us in school--the wanton terrorism visited upon
African-Americans by white mobs from the end of the civil war to
the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. Harper Barnes
takes one of the very worst episodes--the East St. Louis race riot
of 1917--and uses it to illuminate and exorcise a past that we need
to confront. This is a very important book, heartbreaking and
riveting, history that is as fresh as today's news."--Joe Klein,
"Time Magazine "columnist"You put "Never Been a Time" down and
think, 'How can I imagine myself an educated American and not know
this?' A terrifying account, by a masterful writer."--Paul Solman,
economics correspondent for the "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer"""Never
Been a Time" uncovers one of those buried chapters in our country's
defining narrative of race and vividly lays out the nexus of
economic desperation, corporate ruthlessness and racial antagonism
that resulted in what Gunnar Myrdal called this 'mass lynching' in
the American heartland. Harper Barnes is a natural reporter and an
extremely elegant writer."--Diane McWhorter, author of "Carry Me
Home" and "A Dream of Freedom""America's worst race riots are
pivotal moments in the nation's history with a great deal to teach
us. Barnes skillfully places this shocking and important story in
its full historical context and conveys a powerful sense of place:
the dangerous streets and vice dens of East St. Louis, the foul
winds from the smokestacks and slaughterhouses, and the city's
toxic stew of greed, corruption, labor competition, and racism.
"Never Been a Time" vividly recounts a horrifying massacre, but it
is also a testament to human resilience, a celebration of a city
that against all odds has produced so many famous cultural figures
and drawn them back home to fight for its survival and its
children's future."--Barnet Schecter, author of "The Devil's Own
Work""Harper Barnes has written a brilliant account of a tragic
event in the American experience. He places the bloody East St.
Louis Race Riot in its historical national context--demonstrating
that it was more than an explosion of local pressures, but also a
violent intersection of larger societal forces. He does a fine job
synthesizing existing scholarly literature and the latest academic
analyses alongside his own primary work. This well-researched and
cogently-written book makes a meaningful contribution to the
understanding of the infamous 1917 riot as well as race relations
generally, and deserves the attention of scholars and citizens
alike."--Andrew J. Theising, Ph.D., director of the Institute for
Urban Research, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and
author of "Made in USA: East St. Louis"
“A sobering look at white-black history in this country and how it
informs race relations today...Barnes brings fresh light to a
troubling past that white Americans would prefer to forget and
black Americans cannot.”—Scott Martelle, "Los Angeles""
Times"“There is a secret history of American race relations, things
they never taught us in school—the wanton terrorism visited upon
African-Americans by white mobs from the end of the civil war to
the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. Harper Barnes
takes one of the very worst episodes—the East St. Louis race riot
of 1917—and uses it to illuminate and exorcise a past that we need
to confront. This is a very important book, heartbreaking and
riveting, history that is as fresh as today’s news.”—Joe Klein,
"Time Magazine "columnist“You put "Never Been a Time" down and
think, ‘How can I imagine myself an educated American and not know
this?’ A terr
"A sobering look at white-black history in this country and how it
informs race relations today...Barnes brings fresh light to a
troubling past that white Americans would prefer to forget and
black Americans cannot."--Scott Martelle, "Los Angeles""
Times""There is a secret history of American race relations, things
they never taught us in school--the wanton terrorism visited upon
African-Americans by white mobs from the end of the civil war to
the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. Harper Barnes
takes one of the very worst episodes--the East St. Louis race riot
of 1917--and uses it to illuminate and exorcise a past that we need
to confront. This is a very important book, heartbreaking and
riveting, history that is as fresh as today's news."--Joe Klein,
"Time Magazine "columnist"You put "Never Been a Time" down and
think, 'How can I imagine myself an educated American and not know
this?' A terrifying account, by a masterful writer."--Paul Solman,
economics correspondent for the "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer"""Never
Been a Time" uncovers one of those buried chapters in our country's
defining narrative of race and vividly lays out the nexus of
economic desperation, corporate ruthlessness and racial antagonism
that resulted in what Gunnar Myrdal called this 'mass lynching' in
the American heartland. Harper Barnes is a natural reporter and an
extremely elegant writer."--Diane McWhorter, author of "Carry Me
Home" and "A Dream of Freedom""America's worst race riots are
pivotal moments in the nation's history with a great deal to teach
us. Barnes skillfully places this shocking and important story in
its full historical context and conveys a powerful sense of place:
thedangerous streets and vice dens of East St. Louis, the foul
winds from the smokestacks and slaughterhouses, and the city's
toxic stew of greed, corruption, labor competition, and racism.
"Never Been a Time" vividly recounts a horrifying massacre, but it
is also a testament to human resilience, a celebration of a city
that against all odds has produced so many famous cultural figures
and drawn them back home to fight for its survival and its
children's future."--Barnet Schecter, author of "The Devil's Own
Work""Harper Barnes has written a brilliant account of a tragic
event in the American experience. He places the bloody East St.
Louis Race Riot in its historical national context--demonstrating
that it was more than an explosion of local pressures, but also a
violent intersection of larger societal forces. He does a fine job
synthesizing existing scholarly literature and the latest academic
analyses alongside his own primary work. This well-researched and
cogently-written book makes a meaningful contribution to the
understanding of the infamous 1917 riot as well as race relations
generally, and deserves the attention of scholars and citizens
alike."--Andrew J. Theising, Ph.D., director of the Institute for
Urban Research, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and
author of "Made in USA: East St. Louis"
"There is a secret history of American race relations, things they
never taught us in school--the wanton terrorism visited upon
African-Americans by white mobs from the end of the civil war to
the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. Harper Barnes
takes one of the very worst episodes--the East St. Louis race riot
of 1917--and uses it to illuminate and exorcise a past that we need
to confront. This is a very important book, heartbreaking and
riveting, history that is as fresh as today's news."--Joe Klein,
Time Magazine columnist"You put "Never Been a Time" down and think,
'How can I imagine myself an educated American and not know this?'
A terrifying account, by a masterful writer."--Paul Solman,
economics correspondent for the "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer"""Never
Been a Time" uncovers one of those buried chapters in our country's
defining narrative of race and vividly lays out the nexus of
economic desperation, corporate ruthlessness and racial antagonism
that resulted in what Gunnar Myrdal called this 'mass lynching' in
the American heartland. Harper Barnes is a natural reporter and an
extremely elegant writer."--Diane McWhorter, author of "Carry Me
Home" and "A Dream of Freedom""America's worst race riots are
pivotal moments in the nation's history with a great deal to teach
us. Barnes skillfully places this shocking and important story in
its full historical context and conveys a powerful sense of place:
the dangerous streets and vice dens of East St. Louis, the foul
winds from the smokestacks and slaughterhouses, and the city's
toxic stew of greed, corruption, labor competition, and racism.
"Never Been a Time" vividly recounts a horrifying massacre, but it
is alsoa testament to human resilience, a celebration of a city
that against all odds has produced so many famous cultural figures
and drawn them back home to fight for its survival and its
children's future."--Barnet Schecter, author of "The Devil's Own
Work""Harper Barnes has written a brilliant account of a tragic
event in the American experience. He places the bloody East St.
Louis Race Riot in its historical national context--demonstrating
that it was more than an explosion of local pressures, but also a
violent intersection of larger societal forces. He does a fine job
synthesizing existing scholarly literature and the latest academic
analyses alongside his own primary work. This well-researched and
cogently-written book makes a meaningful contribution to the
understanding of the infamous 1917 riot as well as race relations
generally, and deserves the attention of scholars and citizens
alike."--Andrew J. Theising, Ph.D., director of the Institute for
Urban Research, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and
author of "Made in USA: East St. Louis"
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