Civil Rights Book Club: 'Blood Done Sign My Name' by Timothy B. Tyson

March 12, 2010 - Posted by The Leadership Conference

Blood Done Sign My Name" is a well-researched historical account of the 1970 murder of Henry Marrow, a black Vietnam vet, by three White men. It is also an emotionally charged autobiography of author Timothy Tyson as it intertwines Tyson's coming-of-age experiences and commentary with the story of the hate crime that widened the racial chasm in the town of Oxford, North Carolina.

Amidst the fear, anger, hate, and confusion of the Jim Crow South, "Blood" tells the story of the Civil Rights Movement from Tyson’s perspective as a Southern White man. Tyson's spirited journey to break the "white veil of silence" as well as to penetrate the social "race line" in Oxford delivers a classic portrait of American history in an unforgettable time.

Tyson's book was recently adapted into a movie, which is currently in theaters. View the trailer below:

The Civil Rights Book Club aims to provide context and provoke discussion about today's top social justice concerns. Each week, we profile a book, a movie, or other media that represent the diversity of the contemporary social justice movement. You can help support The Leadership Conference by purchasing Book Club selections through the Amazon.com link on our website.