William D. Carrigan delves into the history of violence and racial injustice in the United States. His work critically examines the darker aspects of the American historical narrative, particularly focusing on the themes of lynching and mob violence. Carrigan investigates how these phenomena have shaped American society and its institutions. His approach to history is incisive, seeking to uncover uncomfortable truths about the nation's past to foster a deeper understanding of present-day social dynamics.
On May 15, 1916, a crowd of 15,000 witnessed the lynching of an 18-year-old black farm worker named Jesse Washington. Most central Texans of the time failed to call for the punishment of the mob's leaders. This work seeks to explain how a culture of violence that nourished this practice could form and endure for so long among ordinary people.