“Masur’s elegant, nuanced study . . . is both a superb social and political history of the nation’s capital during this crucial period and a significant contribution to the scholarship of race and Reconstruction. . . . Rich, well-researched, and well-conceived. . . . A sophisticated and fascinating treatment deserving of a wide audience. Highly recommended.” — CHOICE
“Kate Masur’s original and widely ramifying study of post-emancipation struggles over equality in Washington, D.C. . . . [is] powerful indeed.” — American Historical Review
“[A] deeply researched, beautifully written narrative. . . . A must-read book, not only for those interested in the emancipation and Reconstruction but for anyone interested in the long, complicated, and contentious story of equality in the United States.” — Civil War History
“In all, Masur sets a new standard in Reconstruction historiography. In a stunning achievement, she has unearthed a lost democratic legacy that was previously unknown — and presented it poignantly and provocatively.” — Journal of American History
“A solid foundation for a comparative assessment of urban-based emancipation politics. . . . [This book] illuminates how Washington, D.C., provided important precedents for both expansive and limited views of emancipation and the rights of black people.” — Journal of Southern History
“[An] excellent book” — Washington History
“I highly recommend this book because Masur provides us a wonderfully well-documented and fascinating history of [Washington D.C.] with lessons for today….An important book….[and] a rewarding one that will hopefully evoke public debate and inspire new ideas for the future.” — Susie’s Budget and Policy Corner blog
“A study worthy of the subject. Deeply researched and compellingly argued, Masur’s book provides new insight. ” — Journal of the Civil War Era
“Masur positions her work at the intersection of political and social history. . . [and] carefully reconstructs the interplay between national and local forces, between the general and the specific. . . . A compelling work that will serve as a model for similar studies for years to come.” — Journal of American Ethnic History
“[Masur’s] book highlights how the District’s direct relationship with a Republican-dominated Congress can help us assess the intentions and the limits of the GOP’s commitment to racial equality.” — Journal of the North Carolina Association of Historians
