The Red Record by Ida B. Wells
The book in question is a pioneering work of investigative journalism and a searing indictment of lynching in the post-Civil War United States. The author, a prominent African American journalist and activist, meticulously documents the horrific practice of lynching, providing detailed accounts of specific incidents and statistical analysis to debunk the common justifications for such violence. The work exposes the systemic racism and injustice that African Americans faced, and it was instrumental in raising public awareness and galvanizing anti-lynching activism. The author's bravery in confronting this issue head-on, despite threats to her own life, underscores the book's importance as a historical document and a testament to the struggle for civil rights.