The story of Ernie Goodman, Detroit lawyer & activist
How his fight for justice helped change America
By Steve Babson, Dave Riddle, and David Elsila
In a working life that spanned half a century, Ernie Goodman was one of the
nation's preeminent defense attorneys for workers and the militant poor. His
remarkable career put him at the center of the struggle for social justice in the
twentieth century, from the sit-down strikes of the 1930s to the Red Scare of the
1950s to the freedom struggles, anti-war demonstrations, and ghetto rebellions
of the 1960s-1970s.
About the book:
The Color of Law traces Goodman's journey through the tumultuous
events of the last century and highlights the many moments when changing perceptions of social
justice clashed with legal precedent.
The book tells Goodman's life story,
beginning with his formative years as the son of immigrant parents in Detroit's
Jewish ghetto, to his early ambitions as a corporate lawyer and his conversion
to socialism and labor law during the Great Depression. From Detroit to Mississippi,
Goodman saw police and other officials giving the "color of law" to
actions that stifled freedom of speech and nullified the rights of workers and
minorities.
The authors highlight Goodman's landmark cases in defense of labor
and civil rights and examine the complex relationships he developed along
the way with individuals like Supreme Court Justice and former Michigan Governor
Frank Murphy, UAW President Walter Reuther, Detroit Mayor Coleman
Young, and Congressman George Crockett. Drawing from a rich collection of
letters, oral histories, court records and press accounts, the authors recreate
the compelling story of Goodman's life.
The Color of Law demonstrates that the abuse of power is non-partisan and
that individuals who oppose injustice can change the course of events.
About the Authors
Steve Babson, Dave Riddle and David Elsila have been friends and fellow activists in Detroit’s labor and social movements for more than 30 years... Read on
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