Victoria Bynum Livres

"Between late 1863 and mid-1864, an armed band of Confederate deserters battled Confederate cavalry in the Piney Woods region of Jones County, Mississippi. Led by Newton Knight and calling themselves the Knight Company after their captain, they set up headquarters in the swamps of the Leaf River, where, legend has it, they declared the Free State of Jones. Adding further controversy to the legend is the story of Newton Knight's interracial romance with his wartime accomplice, Rachel, a slave. From their relationship there developed a mixed-race community that endured long after the Civil War had ended, and the ambiguous racial identity of their descendants confounded the rules of segregated Mississippi well into the twentieth century. The Free State of Jones traces the origins and legacy of the Jones County uprising from the American Revolution to the modern civil rights movement. It shows how the legend--what was told, what was embellished, and what was left out--reveals a great deal about the American South's transition from slavery to segregation; the racial, gender, and class politics of the period; and the contingent nature of history and memory."--Back cover.

This narrative offers a deep, personal exploration of an American family's journey through five generations, intertwining their experiences with significant historical events. The book highlights the resilience and evolution of familial bonds against the backdrop of changing societal landscapes, providing a rich tapestry of personal and collective history. Through its intimate storytelling, it captures the complexities of identity, legacy, and the impact of history on individual lives.