logo

54 pages 1 hour read

Blood Done Sign My Name: A True Story

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2004

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

logo
Timothy B. Tyson

Blood Done Sign My Name

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2004
Book Details
Pages

355

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Oxford, North Carolina • 1970s

Publication Year

2004

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1240L

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy B. Tyson recounts the 1970 racially motivated murder of Henry Marrow Jr., a Black Army veteran, by white assailants in Oxford, North Carolina, and the subsequent civil unrest. The book explores the entrenched white supremacy and racial tensions in the South, spotlighting the reactions from both Black and white communities as well as Tyson's personal and academic journey influenced by these events. Tyson uses unedited racial language, including epithets, for historical authenticity.

Informative

Dark

Challenging

Emotional

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.4

4,300 ratings

82%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Timothy B. Tyson's Blood Done Sign My Name is praised for its powerful narrative and in-depth exploration of racial tensions in 1970s North Carolina. Critics commend its historical accuracy and emotional impact. However, some felt the prose could be dense at times, affecting readability. Overall, it is regarded as an essential, insightful read on America's complex racial history.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Blood Done Sign My Name?

Readers who appreciate The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander or Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates will find Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy B. Tyson compelling. It appeals to those interested in civil rights history, racial justice, and nuanced personal narratives set against significant social upheaval.

4.4

4,300 ratings

82%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

355

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Oxford, North Carolina • 1970s

Publication Year

2004

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1240L

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.