Title: In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History
Author: Mitch Landrieu
First published March 20, 2018
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 4.03
Overview
In “In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History,” Mitch Landrieu takes readers on a powerful journey through his personal and political experiences with racism in America. As the former mayor of New Orleans who made the controversial decision to remove Confederate statues, Landrieu sheds light on the importance of acknowledging and reckoning with our country’s complicated past.
Drawing from his own upbringing in one of America’s most racially divided cities, Landrieu challenges readers to relearn Southern history and confront the institutional inequities that still plague our society today. With equal parts memoir, history, and prescription for change, Landrieu’s urgent book is a must-read for anyone looking to contribute to the national conversation on race in the age of Donald Trump.
Editoral Review
In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History by Mitch Landrieu is a powerful memoir that explores the history of race and racism in the American South. Landrieu, a former mayor of New Orleans, reflects on his personal experiences growing up in a segregated society and his efforts to dismantle monuments that honor Confederate leaders.
Landrieu’s writing style is candid, reflective, and deeply personal. He tells his story with honesty and vulnerability, and his willingness to confront uncomfortable truths makes this book a compelling read.
Through his personal journey, Landrieu examines the legacy of slavery and racism in the United States and explores how we can move forward as a society.
The book is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on Landrieu’s childhood and his experiences growing up in a racially divided New Orleans.
He describes how his family’s racial attitudes were shaped by the city’s history and how he began to question those attitudes as he grew older. The second part of the book focuses on Landrieu’s tenure as mayor of New Orleans and his decision to remove four Confederate monuments from public spaces.
Landrieu’s decision to remove the monuments was controversial and met with fierce opposition from some quarters. However, he argues that the monuments were symbols of white supremacy and had no place in a modern, inclusive society.
He also notes that the monuments were erected at a time when African Americans were being denied basic civil rights and that they served as a reminder of that oppression.
One of the strengths of this book is Landrieu’s ability to connect his personal experiences with larger historical and political issues. He contextualizes his story within the broader history of the American South and shows how the legacy of slavery and racism continues to shape our society today.
He also highlights the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths and acknowledges that dismantling systemic racism is a difficult and ongoing process.
In terms of weaknesses, some readers may find that the book is too focused on Landrieu’s personal journey and not enough on the broader social and political issues at play. Additionally, some readers may take issue with Landrieu’s decision to remove the Confederate monuments, arguing that they are part of Southern heritage and should be preserved.
Overall, In the Shadow of Statues is a well-written and thought-provoking book that offers valuable insights into the history of race and racism in the United States. It is a timely and important work that speaks to the ongoing struggle for racial justice in our society.
I highly recommend it to anyone interested in this topic.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
