Ehle, John

The Free Men

New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1965. First Edition. Hardcover. “Speaking subjectively as a civil rights leader, I can say that this book is a most valuable documentation of the successive stages of direct action efforts in a community; it gives insight into the thinking of all of the protagonists; it takes into consideration the conflicting legal and moral issues raised. Surely it merits a wide audience among all persons who wish to understand the various approaches and attempts to reach the goal of equal opportunity for all” (Whitney M. Young, Jr., Executive Director of the National Urban League, as qtd. on Back Cover). While you won’t see John Ehle’s “The Free Men” in contemporary, “Best-Of” Social Justice reading lists (especially those claiming to be in unerring alignment with the edicts of the so-called “Antiracist” authors, Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo), you should. A peek at this wildly underappreciated work’s interior flap copy serves to peel the curtain back further, describing “the experiences of a handful of dedicated young amateurs, both black and white, during the months when Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the most ‘enlightened’ town in the most ‘enlightened’ state in the South, became a focal point of civil rights activity and resistance….The movement began through the efforts of young men like John Dunne, an honor graduate of Choate School and a scholarship student at the university; Pat Cusick, a grandson of the founder of the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama; and their Negro friend and civil rights leader from Durham, Quinton Baker….The lessons to be drawn from what happened in Chapel Hill can be applied to every American community.” One thing is certain: Ehle’s work is deserving of revival — and particularly in contemporary academic & intellectual circles, where animosity often masquerades as compassion, and the discourse (local and national) deteriorates as a result. Hardcover in unclipped, unrestored dust-jacket: the First Edition, as indicated on copyright page. Book in near fine condition with only mild-to-enunciated shelf-wear, bumping, bump-indentations (at select locales) to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; moderate age-typical toning, yellowing to text block at & along same. Dust-jacket in Very Good condition with moderate-to-pronounced shelf-wear, bump-creasing, closed tears & bump-indentations at/along fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge. Near Fine / Very Good. [Item #5302]

Price: $20.00