Conviction

The Murder Trial That Powered Thurgood Marshall's Fight for Civil Rights

De: Denver Nicks, John Nicks

Narrado por: Ron Butler

On New Year's Eve, 1939, a horrific triple murder occurred in rural Oklahoma. Within a matter of days, investigators identified several suspects: convicts who had been at a craps game with one of the victims the night before. Also at the craps game was a young black farmer named W. D. Lyons. As anger at authorities grew, political pressure mounted to find a villain. The governor's representative settled on Lyons, who was arrested, tortured into signing a confession, and tried for the murder.

The NAACP's new Legal Defense and Education Fund sent its young chief counsel, Thurgood Marshall, to take part in the trial. The NAACP desperately needed money, and Marshall was convinced that the Lyons case could be a fundraising boon for both the state and national organizations. It was. The case went on to the US Supreme Court, and the NAACP raised much-needed money from the publicity.

Conviction is the story of Lyons v. Oklahoma, the oft-forgotten case that set Marshall and the NAACP on the path that led ultimately to victory in Brown v. Board of Education and the accompanying social revolution in the United States.

©2019 Denver Nicks and John Nicks (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Great Story - RECOMMEND!

Highly recommend this story of the fight for equality under the law; and of a man who was ground to dust as his part in the fight played out. From cover to cover - ashes to ashes - it is hard truth. Buying hard copy and will listen again.

What a piece of history 💕

Amazing narrator and I love the history told honestly and with continued faith that WE THE PEOPLE are equally human in every way ❤

An important book!

Denver and John Nicks illuminate a dark chapter in the history of racism and injustice reaching the highest levels of government in Oklahoma. Additionally, they provide fascinating insight into the fledgling career of Thurgood Marshall with the NAACP. The research for this book is impressive and the writing superb. “Conviction” is a story which needed telling, and it is told in a compelling fashion. I highly recommend it. —-Michael & Kathleen Duncan

Impactful Lives

Excellent narration. Interwoven lives and their influence on an truly ugly part of our history: tacit acceptance or outright proponents of JIM CROW bring the insight to this scourge and its effect on men and the justice systemon the lives of three men, only one of whom is Marshall. Next time someone says to you”I wish it could be like ‘the good old days,’” think again. Such pathos and sadness for people of color back in the “good old days…”

Excellent Book

Eye opener loves these types of books. this is something that should be taught in schools.

wow

an amazing story of America, the civil rights movement and Thergood Marshall. well done throughout.

Good. Not great.

It loses focus, but is still a good book chronicling the abuses of the Jim Crow era’s abusive legal system.