42 pages • 1 hour read
At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance—a New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
416
Book • Nonfiction
Southern United States • 1940s-1970s
2010
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
At the Dark End of the Street by Danielle L. McGuire reveals the pivotal yet often overlooked role of Black women in the civil rights movement, with a focus on resisting racial and sexual violence. The book details the activism of figures such as Rosa Parks, Recy Taylor, and others, showing how their courage and struggle against abuse galvanized transformative campaigns like the Montgomery bus boycott.
Informative
Dark
Challenging
Unnerving
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
4,290 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Danielle L. McGuire's At the Dark End of the Street is widely praised for its in-depth research and compelling narrative, shedding light on the intersection of sexual violence and the civil rights movement. Critics commend its powerful storytelling and focus on overlooked history. Some find it dense with details, which might overwhelm casual readers. Overall, it is a significant and enlightening read.
Who Should Read At the Dark End of the Street?
At the Dark End of the Street will captivate readers interested in African American history, civil rights, and feminist studies. Similar to The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson and Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, it appeals to those seeking in-depth, narrative-driven accounts of racial and gender injustices.
4,290 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Recy Taylor
Recy Taylor
A young woman from Abbeville, Alabama, whose courageous stand after being raped by a group of white men in 1944 helped galvanize the civil rights movement.
Betty Jean Owens
Betty Jean Owens
A Florida A&M University student who, after being brutally raped by four white men, becomes central to a significant trial that tested the justice system’s response to the assault of Black women.
Joan Little
Joan Little
An inmate who defended herself against a sexual attack by a jailer and was subsequently acquitted in a landmark case supported by civil rights activists.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
A minister in Montgomery who rose to prominence during the Montgomery bus boycott and became a leading figure in the civil rights movement.
416
Book • Nonfiction
Southern United States • 1940s-1970s
2010
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.