The judge also takes an unflattering look at Jim Crow which refers to the series of laws enacted in order to codify racist behavior. No greater examples of government-led racism exist than during these times and especially in the segregation of the armed forces up through World War II.
Even the Supreme Court's brightest moments in dealing with race and particularly Brown v. Board of Education are given an unflinching examination. While the final outcome of the case may have been the correct one, the logic that the Court used to reach the decision was, in the judge's view, based more on positivism and manipulation of the Constitution's language than on natural law.
His sharpest criticism is saved for politicians as he clearly shows how members of both political parties have traditionally used race to score political victories.
The book concludes with a chapter on baseball which at first blush may seem out of place in a book on racial history. But both the ugliest example of racism and one of the greatest civil rights victories are embodied in the person of Jackie Robinson who was the first player to break the color barrier in the Major Leagues.
In short, Dred Scott's Revenge is an excellent history of America's often turbulent relationship between races. Though America was founded on the principle of all individuals being created equally and having equal rights under the law we still have a long way to go. Judge Napolitano helps us to see where we have been and how far we still have to go to reach the goal.
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