“The Mississippi Chinese: Between Black and White," a book written by James Loewen in 1971, is an important look at race in the United States, especially in the Deep South.

You may know of Loewen from his popular "Lies" books including "Lies My Teacher Told Me," "Lies Across America" and "Lies My Teacher Told Me About Christopher Columbus." Mississippi Chinese examines a much overlooked minority in the United States and how they melted into the racially charged a

tmosphere of the Old South. A part of American history that frequently slips between the cracks is how white plantation owners imported Chinese "sharecroppers" hoping to replace their recently lost slaves following the Civil War.

Loewen, reveals the Chinese initially were classified with blacks, but later transitioned from "colored" to white. Part of the move from black to white came at the insistence of the plantation owners that the newly imported Chinese cut ties with "part-black Chinese and those married to colored wives." Loewen's scholarship reveals a part of American racial history rarely if ever discussed publicly and essentially unknown to the majority of Americans.

For any wanting to explore the history of race relations in the United States, "The Mississippi Chinese: Between Black and White," is an informed, intelligent look at what really happened in American race relations.

Don't be misled by the four-star rating, as this book is easily a five-star effort. Because of its scholarly nature, it isn't always the easiest read, thus, the four-star rating. However, "The Mississippi Chinese: Between Black and White," is an important analysis of race in the United States.