Worth the read.

A fascinating chapter of American history that I know wasn’t covered in school for most folks, loved all the family drama and everything involved with building and then losing generational wealth

I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to everyone looking to acquire a better understanding of black politicians post-reconstruction.

The author obviously went to a lot of time researching this book and it shows. Especially since it seems as if he was not able to talk with any descendants of the Bruces.

I learned so much about the history of the reverses that came after Reconstruction and how the hope of equality for blacks was pushed backward politically and socially after the Compromise of 1877. The decisions that Blanche Bruce and his descendants made were sometimes difficult to understand, but I cannot say what I would have done under the same circumstances.

This would have been a 5 star rating but the book could have used some severe editing. There was a lot of repetition of descriptions of relationships and situations. In some ways, it read like a term paper. But it was worth the read for the historical insight.

This was a good book. I love history. It is so sad how this family turned out. I know Blanche was turning in his grave to see how the future generations tarnished the family name he worked so hard to build.

I enjoyed learning about this man. Surprised to not have known of him before.

Very interesting.

Interesting story, to a degree, but unfortunately not told well. As a historian Mr. Graham has his research and sources down pack, anyone into history, in particular Black history and the Reconstruction era, will love the backdrop he paints. However, not really sure there was enough to make a story out of, or perhaps he just did not choose or craft the stories well. A lot of repetition of fact, and when you see that, it tends to tell me there's not a lot of story here. If this subject matter is of interests, then I high recommend reading "Sweet Hell Inside."

This book was great. I learned SO much about American History in the 1800's.

Mr. Graham is a clever devil!!! I love reading his work because it always sheds light on so many gems of our past. He doesn't just name drop, but details all of his subjects, characterizing them in a way that just makes you want to know more. His writing is articulate, confident and provocative in a way that lures you right on in.

The only thing I don't particularly care for is the way he always points out how some uppity Blacks, or members of the Black elite were separatists who considered themselves better than the masses who were not quite light, or right enough for them. I just don't buy it. Not when so many civic organizations were born by this group and others who were a part of the middle and working classes.

Anyway, this is a great read. So much history and fine, intelligent writing.

You highbrow son of gun, you, Graham. Always going on about the Black and the Bougie! blah...blah...blah...but you know what?

I love it :)

The book told the important story of the first black U S Senator from Mississippi elected during Reconstruction. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel that I got to know Blanche Bruce or his wife Josephine by reading this book. However, I learned a lot about Reconstruction and Redemption and areas of the country. At times, the author included too many names and details and repeated some details, but overall it was a good story from 1841 through the 1960s and three generations of the Bruce family. The patriarch never really took strong stands on issues, instead preferring to stay off of ‘radar screens’ of elitist black and whites of his time. I learned many things about Booker T Washington and Tuskegee and the time Josephine and Roscoe Sr spent there. It was such a sad ending for the family to wind up in ruin in three generations.

Very interesting piece of history that only a few people know about. It should be read by all if for no other reason then to add another dimension to our understanding of American and Black history. America's first African-American family dynasty of prominence. Harvard grads, register of treasury (name on paper currency) friends of presidents, society bigwigs.