The Other Side of Middletown: Exploring Muncie's African American Community
A puzzle is complete only when the last piece is in place. With this fascinating study, the path breaking 1929 bookMiddletownis finally complete. Now the true flavor and feel of middle American life emerges. This is a breakthrough. (Williams, Juan)Readers who are interested in the black experience in Indiana will value this work. Still others will find the university/community collaborative approach fascinating and may be inspired to adopt it. (Indiana Magazine Of History)The Other Side of Middletowntruly captures the voices of Muncie's black community, which the Lynds admittedly ignored in their bookMiddletown, published over three-quarters of a century ago. The depiction of the 'other side of Middletown' I knew as a youth is accurate, authentic, and in many cases painfully recalled. Unfortunately, this work shows that some of the division between black and white which existed in Muncie in the 1920s and 1930s and even into the 1950s and 1960s when I was a youngster still exists in my hometown. While showing that black citizens were always an important part of Muncie's history and development, this book also shows that Muncie has much work to do to be able to come together as a model for America to emulate. (Gregory H. Williams)