Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. ( )

This would be helpful for students looking for historical information in an engaging format. I really liked the art, and it has a section at the end with more elaboration on the biographical elements of the story. ( )

"The Civil Rights Struggle Was Never Black and White"

Houston, Texas 1968

This is an important story, and a very personal story of the author's. In part, it is the story of the "TSU Five" and how a peaceful student protest erupted into unprovoked violence. It is beautifully drawn. But it isn't always clearly told. For example, I didn't know that one of the characters was blind for quite a while! And for me, the lack of clarity of the narrative took away from the importance of it. But it is important, and as a part of the history of the civil rights movement, it should be read - by all!

It also contains one of my all-time favorite quotes:

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

Amen, Dr. King. ( )

Older ARC from NetGalley ( )

This story is taken from events that ooccured in Houston, Texas, about 50 years ago.

quote from
The TSU Riot, 50 years later What really happened that night in 1967, and what does it mean for Houston?
Alex LaRotta, for the Houston Chronicle May 16, 2017 Updated: May 17, 2017 9:02am

"Local and national newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, labeled the incident a riot. Visit the Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas History Online, and there, under "Riots," a brief description reaffirms parts of the prevailing narrative: On the night of May 17, 1967, TSU students rioted. (They were black.) Police officers responded. (They were mostly white.) All of which resulted in thousands of shots fired, the arrest of nearly 500 students, traumatic injuries on both sides and the tragic death of a rookie police officer, Louis Kuba. (He was white. And young. And an expectant father.)

What was often left out of press coverage is that the students weren't actually rioting. There were no reports of looting, destruction of property or mass resistance of arrest, all essential hallmarks of a riot.

More accurately, this was a protest, followed by the alleged throwing of debris at a police car, followed by a police invasion of campus, followed by an isolated shooting of a police officer, which then escalated into an Alamo-scale shootout — all of which, while complex, does not constitute a riot.

Nor was there much discussion on how the so-called "TSU Five" — the five students charged with conspiracy and incitement to riot — were exonerated due to insufficient evidence.

Or that Officer Kuba was shot and killed with a .30 caliber bullet, which was not only incompatible with confiscated guns from the dormitory, but, in fact, indicated HPD ricochet fire, confirmed in ballistic and coroner reports.

Nevertheless, most reports confirm that HPD fired somewhere around 3,000 rounds into Lanier Dormitory. That was followed by a police raid which caused tens of thousands of dollars in property damage."


*eARC Netgalley ( )