Spies of Mississippi

March 1, 2010
Gr 6-10-Bowers draws upon archival material, supplemented with his own extensive research, to document the activities of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, a Civil Rights-era state agency that disseminated segregationist propaganda and used Soviet-style methods to spy upon, harass, and harm those who challenged white supremacy. He describes how the Commission, formed in 1956 in reaction to the "Brown v. Board of Education" Supreme Court decision, recruited a wide network of spies and informants, and conspired with elected officials and state and local law enforcement agencies to thwart any progress on civil rights. Bowers details the Commission's tactics, which disregarded constitutional protections for those who supported or aided the cause, and discusses how the scope of its activities quickly escalated from its initial attempts to control or marginalize the NAACP and resist public and school and university integration into outright advocacy of violence and obstruction of justice. He closes with a discussion of how federal civil rights legislation and the threat of financial sanctions resulted in the abolition of the Commission, but warns readers that the bigotry that gave it free rein still exists and could emerge again. Period black-and-white photographs, an appendix with reproductions of selected Commission documents, and an extensive bibliography of books and links to online archives supplement the text. This book's unique perspective will help students understand the previously unknown history of the despicable actions of Mississippi leaders who opposed civil rights and the silent citizens who supported their activities."Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 1, 2010
Grades 7-10 *Starred Review* With all the books on the civil rights movement for young people, its hard to believe theres a topic that hasnt yet been touched. But Bowers, through impeccable research and personal investigation, seems to have come up with something chillingly new. In 1956, the state of Mississippi conceived a Sovereignty Commission that began as a propaganda outlet and morphed into a spy network, with a goal of stopping integration and crushing the civil rights movement in the state. Written with clarity and understated power, the book methodically shows how white politicians organized the network and willing blacks accepted payment to infiltrate groups like the NAACP, or in some cases rail against civil rights organizations in churches and African American newspapers. After the election of Governor Ross Barnett, the commissions tactics grew bolder, and violence became a part of the mix. Those with knowledge of the era will find this a vivid depiction of those turbulent days, but for them as well as students new to the history the extremes will be an eye-opener. The inset of photographs might have worked better spread throughout the text, but the story is so powerful it hardly needs visuals. Sources, an extensive bibliography, and copies of some of the commission documents (all were unsealed in 1998) are appended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

May 1, 2010
An intriguing complement to such books as Hoose's Claudette Colvin (rev. 3/09) and Partridge's Marching for Freedom (rev. 11/09), Spies of Mississippi takes a good look at how the supporters of segregation -- in the form of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission -- gained and enforced their considerable power. From its founding by Governor J. P. Coleman in 1956 through the 1960s, the commission fought, both overtly and covertly, to keep segregation the law in Mississippi even as resistance mounted and federal laws changed. The commission sent spies to NAACP meetings, paid informants (both black and white) to name names, and inveigled local law enforcement to threaten integrationists and plant evidence. Chronologically ordered, Spies climaxes with James Meredith's tortuous but ultimately successful effort to enroll in the University of Mississippi in 1962, a story Bowers tells with journalistic immediacy. Though sometimes uncertainly outlined, with abrupt shifts from one topic to the next, the book nevertheless explores a side of civil rights history not much covered in books for young people, and its reproduction of documents (unfortunately appended rather than integrated into the text) from the actual commission allows the evidence to speak for itself. A full bibliography, sources for quotations, and an index are also appended.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2010
This intriguing book looks at how the supporters of segregation--in the form of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission--gained and enforced their considerable power. Chronologically ordered, the volume climaxes with James Meredith's enrollment in the University of Mississippi in 1962, a story Bowers tells with journalistic immediacy. Reproduced documents (appended) from the actual commission allow the evidence to speak for itself. Bib., ind.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2011
Gr 7–10—-Through extensive research and interviews, Rick Bowers has uncovered evidence of a spy network that was active in Mississippi beginning in 1956. Its goal was to stop integration and cripple the civil rights movement. The information is presented in this volume (National Geographic, 2010) in a straightforward and entertaining manner. Starting with the advent of integration laws in 1954, Bowers follows the civil rights movement time line closely in Mississippi and details the involvement of prominent figures on both sides of the race issue. With examples ranging from leading separatist politicians to protesting college students, each major event is chronicled, usually focusing on one specific person's involvement. Bowers also includes an afterward detailing what happened to each person involved after the civil rights movement ended in the early 1970s. Occasionally the story is peppered with phrasing that illustrates a distinct bias, but overall the events are presented in an exemplary format, encouraging listeners to learn more about this interesting time period. Peter Jay Fernandez's narration enhances the story, delivering the facts in a forthright and respectful manner. This production could be used in classrooms and is recommended for high school and public library collections.—"Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT"

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.