John Roy Lynch’s story and the accomplishments of Black people during the early days of Reconstruction have been systematically disparaged, diminished and dishonored. To combat disinformation about Reconstruction by White supremacists, Lynch, a writer, military officer, attorney, and lifelong Republican, wrote a book detailing some the accomplishments of Reconstruction. He also predicted that as time passed, burying the true history of the period would become even more pronounced. Minority Rule recounts the decades-long effort by reactionary White conservatives to undermine democracy and entrench their power―and the movement to stop them. Voices such as John Roy Lynch’s are a critical part in preserving that shared understanding.

Source: Washington Post July 16, 2024 20:44 UTC