A Slow, Calculated Lynching: The Story of Clyde Kennard (Race, Rhetoric, and Media Series)

In "A Slow, Calculated Lynching: The Story of Clyde Kennard," Devery S. Anderson paints a harrowing yet inspiring portrait of Clyde Kennard, a forgotten hero of the civil rights movement. Kennard, a Korean War veteran, dared to challenge the entrenched segregation of the late 1950s by attempting to enroll at the all-white Mississippi Southern College. His repeated efforts were met with a sinister campaign orchestrated by the highest levels of Mississippi's government, culminating in false accusations and a wrongful conviction that sentenced him to hard labor, where he ultimately succumbed to untreated cancer. This meticulously researched biography not only recounts the tragic circumstances of Kennard's life but also celebrates the posthumous efforts to vindicate him, showcasing the transformational power of community advocacy and the ongoing fight for racial justice. Published on March 8, 2023, this poignant narrative is an essential read for adult education groups seeking to understand the deep historical roots of racial injustice and the resilience required to challenge it.