I read this book for a grad class about the 1960s. While most studies of the Civil Rights movement focus on the movement itself, Webb instead examines the leading actors of those who opposed desegregation. This book is not about the KKK or other groups, while they merit some mention, Webb focuses on the men who deemed themselves the leaders and/or agitators who often successfully stirred ordinary citizens to violent action. This book also relies heavily on the supposition of class warfare within the South, in that blue-collar laborers were often excluded from anti-desegregation because of a perceived lack of education. This exclusion left the door open for agitators to capitalize on the income gaps and the supposed problems desegregation would cause. Although I read it for a class, I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the dark side of the Civil Rights era.
