The Dozier School for Boys: Forensics, Survivors, and a Painful Past
by Elizabeth A. Murray
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Some true crimes reveal themselves in bits and pieces over time. One such case is the Florida School for Boys, a.k.a. the Dozier School, a place where--rather than reforming the children in their care--school officials tortured, raped, and killed them. Opened in 1900, the school closed in 2011 after a Department of Justice investigation substantiated allegations of routine beatings and killings made by about 100 survivors. Follow this story of institutional abuse, the brave survivors who show more spoke their truth, and the scientists and others who brought it to light. show lessTags
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I wanted to read something factual about the Dozier School after reading Coulson Whitehead's novel, Nickel Boys, and this book targeted at younger readers was what my local libraries had on hand. The prose is a bit dry, but there are photos and interesting sidebars throughout to break things up. And it did what I wanted, sating my curiosity on this ghastly topic.
Side note: Thanks to the one-armed school employee who participated in the student beatings, this is now the 16th book I've read this year -- the third this month -- to prominently feature an amputee. The unexpected trend continues.
Side note: Thanks to the one-armed school employee who participated in the student beatings, this is now the 16th book I've read this year -- the third this month -- to prominently feature an amputee. The unexpected trend continues.
Survivors from the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida formed support groups, which gave them the strength to contact the media about the years of abuse they’d suffered as young boys. After the media got involved the state of Florida allowed teams from the University of South Florida to investigate the school cemetery and exhume bodies for identification purposes.
Interviews, primary sources and detailed forensic techniques combine to give a view of the school that was eye opening because the town in which it was located knowingly allowed the abuse to continue over the years. To me this is similar to how towns, in which Nazi concentration camps were located, willingly allowed atrocities to happen with their full knowledge. It show more was interesting how the town of Marianna kept denying their culpability, when they were just as guilty in covering it all up for decades as were the school staff and the state of Florida.
Highly recommended for teens ages 14 and older, as well as for Adults.
Book review link: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/2020/01/05/the-dozier-school-for-boys-f... show less
Interviews, primary sources and detailed forensic techniques combine to give a view of the school that was eye opening because the town in which it was located knowingly allowed the abuse to continue over the years. To me this is similar to how towns, in which Nazi concentration camps were located, willingly allowed atrocities to happen with their full knowledge. It show more was interesting how the town of Marianna kept denying their culpability, when they were just as guilty in covering it all up for decades as were the school staff and the state of Florida.
Highly recommended for teens ages 14 and older, as well as for Adults.
Book review link: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/2020/01/05/the-dozier-school-for-boys-f... show less
My gosh, the incredible lack of human decency never ceases to amaze me. I cannot believe so many adults employed by this school and in the neighboring community allowed these atrocities to happen and continue for so many years. Unbelievable. A short read, but not an easy one.
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76 Works 271 Members
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Awards and Honors
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Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2019
- People/Characters
- Gustavo "Gus" Barreiro; Justin Caldwell; Dick Colon; Robert Currie; Arthur G. Dozier; Richard Estabrook (show all 25); Johnny Lee Gaddy; Antoinette Harrell; Robert Hatton; Richard Huntly; Arthur Huntley; Antoinette Jackson; Erin Kimmerle; Roger Dean Kiser; Carol Marbin Miller; Michael O'McCarthy; Bill Price; Donald Fred Smith; Louis Souza; Robert W. Straley; Troy Tidwell; E. Christian Wells; Freddie Williams; Lenox Williams; Frank Zych
- Important places
- Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, Marianna, Florida, USA; Florida Industrial School for Boys, Marianna, Florida, USA; Florida School for Boys, Marianna, Florida, USA; Marianna, Florida, USA; Florida State Reform School, Marianna, Florida, USA
- Dedication
- This book was written to honor and support all who suffered at the Dozier School for Boys, including those who came forth to tell their stories and those who could not. It is my hope that in relating the accounts of the men o... (show all)f Dozier, I can help convey the power of abuse and the power of truth telling. Although reading the heartbreaking accounts of the Dozier survivors is difficult, it was an honor to write this story and promote their cause. I hope they someday find peace and justice. I also dedicate this book to my grandson, Sam; may he grow to be wise and strong and work to promote justice and healing.
- First words
- The fire began on the ground floor of the Florida State Reform School dormitory in the early hours of the morning.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)When we were children, you took our freedom away for no reason other than for your greedy gain . . . but in the end, we will also win.
- Publisher's editor
- Di Piazza, Domenica
- Original language
- English
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Anthropology, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 365.975993 — Social sciences Social problems and social services Penal institutions and other detention institutions History, geographic treatment, biography North America Southeastern U.S. Florida
- LCC
- HV9105 .F7 .D78 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminal justice administration Penology. Prisons. Corrections The juvenile offender. Juvenile delinquency.
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 38
- Popularity
- 777,246
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.80)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 9
