Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America

kindness and their generosity. I was also fortunate to speak with several people who, for various reasons, have asked me not to identify them. But their insights and contributions to this story were important, and I’m thankful they were willing to share a painful part of the past with me.
    This book benefits tremendously from the research and counsel of the brilliant Matthew J. Boylan of the ASK NYPL division of the New York Public Library, who is in a category all by himself, and an indispensable source on history, political science, law, and journalism, to name but a few.
    Early versions of my manuscript were turned over to a number of trusted friends who were charitable enough to read and offer valuable advice and encouragement. Karen Abbott lent her sharp eyes and well-honed storytelling instincts, and Jim Wohl his astute judgment and big-picture sensibilities. Both brought their sense of humor (in the margins and comments) to the most grinding of work—the rewrites. Carlo DeVito is, as always, an optimistic force of nature, spurring me on whenever I got stuck (often), while attorney extraordinaire Tom Burka was always there with the answers to my strange and perplexing legal questions. Betsy West gave me sage journalistic advice, and Anita Kimberly Sower and Dorothy King were trusty researchers who helped me track down material across the country. Boyd Murphree, archivist at the State Archives of Florida, and William Lefevre at the Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University helped me get my hands on files and information that were essential to this book, and Judi Mackey came through for me in a very big way. I’m also grateful to the staffs of the National Archives, the Library of Congress, the University of South Florida Libraries Special Collections, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Moorland Spingarn Research Center, Howard University, the Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Butler Library, Columbia University, and the New York Public Library.
    I don’t know what I would do without the discerning Peter Skutches in my corner, looking over my manuscript. Patient, reassuring, and indefatigable, he’s a godsend of a friend and a devil with a green pencil.
    I’m grateful to my longtime friend Joe Hamilla and his family (Cheryl, Hanna, and Jonathan), who were kind enough to put me up, and put up with me, over several research trips to Lake County, as well as to Janet, Jack, and Chase Wohl for their Southern hospitality. And to another longtime friend, Tom Schmidt, whose good company and comfortable couch kept me well rested during my stays in Washington, D.C., despite all the caffeinated beverages. For love and support, profound gratitude to the upstate Kings, Ed, Janette, Emily, Eileen, and Jimmy, as well as Dorothy King, Mary Jane Miles, and the ever-present Poppy.
    Special thanks to my former editor, Julia Cheiffetz, whose passion for this story from the very beginning was inspiring, and to Gail Winston, my current editor, who enthusiastically took over the reins of this book and expertly guided it to completion. I couldn’t be more grateful for Gail’s composure and calm assurances on an entirely smooth transition. Also at Harper, Maya Ziv and Katie Salisbury were immensely helpful and efficient, Tom Pitoniak was ever alert and meticulous, and Melanie Jones showed great diligence in her legal read of the manuscript.
    I’m extraordinarily lucky to have Farley Chase as my agent—always encouraging, clearheaded, and sharp as they come. It’s a pleasure to acknowledge my respect and admiration for him.
    Finally, there are only a few words that matter for the three girls who matter most, Lorna, Maddie, and Liv. I love you.

(Courtesy of Cecil Williams)

Credits
    Cover photography courtesy of the State Archives of Florida
Cover design by Chris Sergio

Copyright
    DEVIL IN THE GROVE . Copyright © 2012 by Gilbert King. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins