Bestselling author, Lalita Tademy, returns to a familiar subject in her family history and sheds light on a dark incident during the Reconstruction period in the antebellum South. Her latest novel, Red River, focuses on the atrocities that occurred April 13, 1873 in Colfax, Louisiana. Many of those affected were ex-slaves who were the overwhelming majority in an area nestled among former plantations and rich farmland. After a lifetime of servitude, these newly freed men exercised their right to vote and ousted the long seated bigoted Democratic county sheriff and judge. They embraced their recently bestowed voting rights and elected residents who either sympathized with their plight (scalawags) or those who had recently located to the area from the North (carpetbaggers) after the Civil War. The election results did not sit well with local white supremacists who chose not to recognize the newly elected officials. When their calls to the governor to uphold the election results went unanswered, the freedmen stood up for their rights only to be shot down at the Colfax courthouse waiting for federal assistance that never came. The end result was the death of three white men and a mass murder of over a hundred African Americans, most of whom were lynched after they had surrendered. No one has ever been held accountable for their deaths. Despite the carnage and the encroaching epoch of Jim Crow, Tademy illustrates that her family's dream did not perish that day. Their vision, determination, and resourcefulness to educate the area's Negro children held fast despite the violent threats and racial hostility. Their family values for education, self-reliance, and self-respect were instilled in each generation and survives in modern day. She celebrates their lives, loves, and births and mourns their losses, sacrifices, and deaths. Readers will admire the family's love, commitment to each other, and loyalty to friends that sustained them through the good and bad times. The essence of the story is Tademy's ability to conjure authentic images and scenarios using her naturally candid approach to storytelling. She gains reader empathy by opening the novel with the reflections of Polly, her spunky, paternal great-great-grandmother, reminiscing about the event. The author aptly weaves a tenable tale of her family's involvement during that fateful juncture - fathers, sons, and friends were wounded, maimed, and others died defending their rights, beliefs, and dignity. The novel, bolstered by credible artifacts and sources, chronicles the events leading up to, during, and the aftermath of the massacre. As in Cane River, the author softens the facts with a personal touch - actual photos of her family who are the novel's key characters. Although, I did not find this offering as instantly engaging as the previous novel; it is still nonetheless a wonderful tribute to the Tademy family. More importantly, I appreciate its value as an educational instrument for this seemingly forgotten incident in American history. Admittedly, I had never heard of the Colfax Massacre prior to reading this book and was surprised that very little has been published about such a major travesty. For this alone, I say - Well Done!
This was a very well done historical fiction novel. I highly recommend it, in fact I think it should be a must-read for everyone! This book takes place in Louisiana after the Civil War during the reconstruction period and is based on true events with the author's family (among others). I had never heard of the Colfax Massacre prior to reading this book and learned a lot while reading. The author has done her research well and makes the story come alive, it is so vivid you feel as if you are living through it. Parts of it were so very difficult to read because of the absolute horror of what these people had to go through. It always boggles my mind how other human beings can treat their fellow humans so brutally.One of the things I loved best about this novel was how the author shows us how hard these families worked to have a good life, provide for their families and follow their dreams despite the many unfair and unjust obstacles. The racial hostility and violent threats were so thick during this time and place, what a huge hurdle to climb for those that wanted a peaceful path to a just life. These families rose above those that were placing obstacles in their way, showing that determination, hard work, persistence, hope and faith could lead to a better future for themselves and future generations. It was so very inspiring. I still don't think many people are aware of what African Americans had to go through during these times (and even what they go through today - as we have seen recently in the news). That is why I think books like this are so good for everyone to read.I also loved the way Sam Tademy and some of his descendants treated books. They had such a great appreciation for education and what books could provide, they treated them as one of their most precious possessions. I feel the same way and loved the author's descriptions of these parts. I'm not sure how many of us in this day and age appreciate such things, I am betting most of us take it for granted. The Tademy family realized that education was one of the main keys to getting and giving their people a better life. And they pursued this despite the dangers.This book brought me tears multiple times because of both the heartaches and horrible situations and the tender and inspiring moments. It has left a very heavy impression on me that will stay a very long time.
What do You think about Red River (2007)?
This is an incredible book - and the audio version has great power. It is a harrowing story, about the worst massacre of the Reconstruction Era. More than one hundred, possibly more than one hundred fifty Blacks were slaughtered in horrific ways, for defending the courthouse for the newly elected Republican sheriff, judge and clerk. It is also the story of the end of Reconstruction and the beginning of the Jim Crow era.But more than these, Red River is the story of Lalita Tademy's family as she has been able to piece it together from family history and the written record. It is in the end a triumph of spirit.After listening to the audio version of Red River, I bought the unabridged book. Frankly, I enjoyed it even more than the audio version. The additional details - especially the courting of the author's mother by her father - were effective additions to the story.
—Priscilla Herrington
A riot in a small Louisiana town has forever intertwined two southern families, struggling to subsist and prosper in a country wrought by Civil War. Reconstruction has been won for the newly freed black, but the whites in Colfax are not going to make it easy for them to take their proper place in society. Red River follows through three generations of African Americans and their struggle in the aftermath of the terrible wreckage, yet through adversity we often find our strength as families find out what they are truly made of and beat the odds.This is a chronicle of endurance that is both redolent and gripping, telling the saga of one of the deadliest accounts of racial cruelty in Southern history. The words leap off the page and beg to be read! Well Done!
—Christine
Lalita Tademy did an amazing history of her own family. It catches the reader in its grip and doesn’t let go till the end. The story begins with Polly Tademy who is one hundred years old, speaking of the massacre that took place in Colfax, Louisiana in 1873. History books say it was a riot but she knows differently. Polly tells us, “This is a story not to go down easy” but that it needs to be told.The first Tademy arriving in America was a free man. He came from Egypt and worked a year on a cargo ship to earn passage. Once arriving in this country he was captured and forced into slavery. The story of their proud heritage was passed down from father to son through generations. When things got unbearable and it looked like there was no way to succeed the tradition was to go outside and shout the name TADEMY. It stood for courage, perseverance and freedom. Sam Tademy’s dream was to have the first school for black children in Colfax. Following the destruction of that day in 1973 everything had to be rebuilt. It was a hard battle spanning a whole generation. Obstacles ranged from rebuilding their farms to the Ku Klux Klan burning down the very first school that was built. These obstacles were met and surpassed.Red River is an incredible story of what can be accomplished during the worst of times with faith and a strong will to succeed. Tim Cain and Gammy Singer did a wonderful job of narrating. They made the story come alive and did an excellent job of portraying the personalities of the different family members and friends.
—Diane
