Unpunished Murder

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager begins questioning why justice seems to work differently for different people or why certain historical tragedies are omitted from school textbooks. It provides a rigorous, unflinching account of the Colfax Massacre of 1873 and the subsequent Supreme Court case, United States v. Cruikshank, which effectively dismantled civil rights protections for decades. Through themes of systemic unfairness, resilience, and the weight of historical memory, the book helps older teens process the anger and frustration that often accompany a growing awareness of social injustice. It is an essential choice for families looking to ground contemporary conversations about civil rights in documented historical reality, offering a sophisticated look at how law can be used as both a shield and a weapon.