Up South: Civil Rights and Black Power in Philadelphia

Up South examines the civil rights and Black Power movements in Philadelphia from the 1940s through the 1970s. Through extensive research and archival materials, Matthew J. Countryman documents the struggles, organizing efforts, and resistance of Black Philadelphians during this pivotal period. The book traces multiple fronts of activism, from housing discrimination and police brutality to educational inequality and employment barriers. Countryman follows key organizations and leaders who pushed for change through protests, political campaigns, and community mobilization in Pennsylvania's largest city. The narrative covers both nonviolent civil rights tactics and the rise of Black Power ideology in Philadelphia's Black communities. Major events include school desegregation battles, the growth of CORE and SNCC chapters, tensions with city leadership, and grassroots organizing efforts. This urban Northern civil rights history challenges the conventional focus on the South and demonstrates how racial inequality and resistance also shaped Northern cities. The book reveals the complex relationships between liberal and radical activists, local politics, and the national freedom struggle.

Readers appreciate the detailed research and documentation of Philadelphia's civil rights movement, which fills a gap in scholarship that traditionally focused on the South. Many note how the book reveals connections between housing discrimination, education reform, and police brutality in northern cities. Specific praise focuses on Countryman's analysis of Cecil B. Moore's leadership and the examination of tensions between established civil rights organizations and emerging Black Power groups. Common criticisms include dense academic writing that can be difficult to follow and occasional repetition of information. Some readers wanted more coverage of grassroots organizations and ordinary citizens' perspectives. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (8 ratings) Representative review: "Thorough investigation of the northern civil rights movement, but the academic tone makes it less accessible to general readers" - Goodreads user The book receives consistent citations in academic work but has limited reviews from general readers.

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📚 Philadelphia's civil rights movement was notably different from Southern campaigns, focusing heavily on jobs, housing, and schools rather than dismantling legally enforced segregation. 🏫 Author Matthew J. Countryman teaches at the University of Michigan and specializes in African American history and civil rights studies. The book grew from his dissertation at Duke University. ⚡ Cecil B. Moore, a central figure in the book, led a successful 1965 protest of Girard College that lasted 7 months and 17 days - at the time, the longest civil rights demonstration in U.S. history. 🗳️ The 1951 voter registration drive in Philadelphia registered over 40,000 new Black voters, transforming the city's political landscape and setting the stage for future activism. 🏆 Up South won the Liberty Legacy Foundation Award from the Organization of American Historians in 2006 for being the best book on civil rights history.