Hurricane Jim Crow: How the Great Sea Island Storm of 1893 Shaped the Lowcountry South.

"Hurricane Jim Crow: How the Great Sea Island Storm of 1893 Shaped the Lowcountry South" by Caroline Grego is a book that explores the lasting impact of the Hurricane of 1893 on the South Carolina Lowcountry. The author argues that the storm not only caused immediate devastation but also contributed to the rise of Jim Crow and the erosion of Black landownership and political involvement. The book is organized into three sections: "Hurricane," "Aftermath," and "Cascade," which analyze the environmental, social, and political effects of the storm. Grego's research draws on a variety of sources, including civic reports, newspaper articles, and personal papers, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the storm's impact on the region. The book sheds light on the fragmented relief efforts of the late nineteenth century and the conflicting goals of organizations like the Red Cross, which aimed to support Black landownership while white politicians sought to undermine it. While the book primarily focuses on the experiences of Black Lowcountry residents, it neglects the perspectives of poor White residents and could benefit from more comparisons to other disaster responses in the region. Overall, "Hurricane Jim Crow" is a well-researched and important study that highlights the significance of preserving Black landownership and the cultural heritage of the Lowcountry. [Extracted from the article]