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Title details for The Lost Sons of Omaha by Joe Sexton - Available

The Lost Sons of Omaha

The Tragic Deaths of Jake Gardner and James Scurlock in a Fractured America

by Joe Sexton
Dion Graham
Audiobook
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A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF 2023

"A meticulously researched and briskly written account that deftly weaves the influences of racial injustice, economic disparity, incendiary social media, and guns." —Associated Press

From the award-winning journalist Bob Woodward calls "one of the truly great reporters working today," a searing account of two linked and tragic deaths stemming from the 2020 George Floyd protests that explores the complex political and racial mistrust and division of today's America.

"One of the most superb testaments about the confusion, despair, and—hopefully—humility that frames our century that one could ever hope to read." —Hilton Als
On May 30, 2020, in Omaha, Nebraska, amid the protests that rocked our nation after George Floyd's death at the hands of police, thirty-eight-year-old white bar owner and Marine veteran Jake Gardner fatally shot James Scurlock, a twenty-two-year-old Black protestor and young father. What followed were two investigations of Scurlock's death, one conducted by the white county attorney Don Kleine, who concluded that Gardner had legally acted in self-defense and released him without a trial, and a second grand jury inquiry conducted by Black special prosecutor Fred Franklin that indicted Gardner for manslaughter. Days after the indictment, Gardner killed himself with a single bullet to the head.

The deaths of both Scurlock and Gardner gave rise to a toxic brew of misinformation, false claims, and competing political agendas. The two men, each with their own complicated backgrounds, were turned into caricatures. The twin tragedies amounted to an ugly and heartbreaking reflection of a painfully divided country. Here, Joe Sexton "elevates a made-for-social-media tragedy into a kaleidoscopic account of race, justice, and urban politics" (The New York Times Book Review) masterfully unpacking the whole twisted, nearly unbelievable chronicle and explaining which claims were true and which distorted or simply false. "A book of intense moral weight and integrity" (The Washington Post), The Lost Sons of Omaha involves some of the most pressing issues facing America today, including our country's broken criminal justice system, the failure to care for the men and women who fight our wars, the dangerous spread of misinformation, particularly on social media, and the urgent need to band together in the collective pursuit of truth, fairness, and healing.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    May 9, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781797155753
      • File size: 342540 KB
      • Duration: 11:53:37

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      September 1, 2023

      Pulitzer Prize--winning journalist Sexton debuts with a deeply researched investigation into the killing of Black protester and single father James Scurlock by white bar owner and decorated Iraq War veteran Jake Gardner. Sexton's reporting carefully untangles the web of information and misinformation about what transpired during a chaotic protest in Omaha, NE, following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Talented narrator Dion Graham employs a somber, calm voice throughout, providing a nuanced exploration of the men's families and communities and allowing listeners to fully process all aspects of this horrific tale. Chameleonlike, he gives voice to each person, imbuing them with depth and personality. The sad truth of this drama is that the event took on a life of its own in social media, with people who knew nothing about the case enhancing and creating new narratives that obscured the truth, which is that neither Scurlock nor Gardner were as many perceived them to be. VERDICT An empathetic, beautifully narrated audio that details a heartbreaking tragedy complicated by social media and a politicized law-enforcement system.--Laura Trombley

      Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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