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House of Diggs: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Consequential Black Congressman, Charles C. Diggs Jr.
360 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 15, 2026
House of Diggs was a good stepping stone into learning more about African American history in the 20th century - of which I know most basic things. Marion Orr is a political scientist and the book reads like it. HOD has a narrative structure that focuses most on the political history of Diggs life and less on the personal. The introduction of the book is very brief, which is very unusual in academic works; even biographies!
It is very clear that Marion Orr admires Diggs; he says everything but that however. I was skeptical at the fact that Orr chooses to gloss over the fact that Diggs was a womaniser, cheater, and thief. It is also clear that Diggs was a momma's boy, and that he was never told no in his life. The narrative would have been more enjoyable if Orr had shown the financial mismanagement Diggs occurs while working at his family's business would play into his 'fall' in Congress.
Personally, I believe one's personal life is a good reflection of the person themselves - especially when one is a public figure. Overall, the amount of facts in here regarding the political area at the time were enjoyable. The chapter on Emmitt Till had me crying. I have never heard of Charles Diggs before now, and now I know his story.
It is very clear that Marion Orr admires Diggs; he says everything but that however. I was skeptical at the fact that Orr chooses to gloss over the fact that Diggs was a womaniser, cheater, and thief. It is also clear that Diggs was a momma's boy, and that he was never told no in his life. The narrative would have been more enjoyable if Orr had shown the financial mismanagement Diggs occurs while working at his family's business would play into his 'fall' in Congress.
Personally, I believe one's personal life is a good reflection of the person themselves - especially when one is a public figure. Overall, the amount of facts in here regarding the political area at the time were enjoyable. The chapter on Emmitt Till had me crying. I have never heard of Charles Diggs before now, and now I know his story.
September 22, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley and the University of North Carolina press for the copy of House of Diggs.
This story on the life of Congressman Charles Diggs Jr. (D-Michigan) was interesting. My initial introduction to him was from one of my family members, who lived in Detroit in the congressman’s district and was a supporter and admirer of his. Diggs came from a family of note: his father served in the state senate in Michigan, but was also known for his funeral home business. Following in his dad’s footsteps, he would also go on to serve in the state senate, but had ambitions beyond that office and would go on to win a seat to the US House of Representatives. At the time Diggs first entered office, his colleagues included representatives William Dawson from Chicago, and Adam Clayton Powell from Harlem. Diggs was able to politically exist in the middle of Dawson, who was more conservative, and Powell, who was more progressive for that time. Diggs’ ability to carve out a path more in the middle allowed him to garner support as he was the main legislator behind the creation of the law that helped give home rule to DC. Diggs was also involved in the law that would desegregate the airlines. He was particularly skilled at coalition building, and was part of what became an anti-apartheid movement in the 1960s, and was a supporter of the civil rights movement.
Diggs would be more of a celebrated figure in African-American political history – which includes being the first chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, but his public career would later end in scandal.
This was a deeply researched read about a man whose name should be more known. If you
This story on the life of Congressman Charles Diggs Jr. (D-Michigan) was interesting. My initial introduction to him was from one of my family members, who lived in Detroit in the congressman’s district and was a supporter and admirer of his. Diggs came from a family of note: his father served in the state senate in Michigan, but was also known for his funeral home business. Following in his dad’s footsteps, he would also go on to serve in the state senate, but had ambitions beyond that office and would go on to win a seat to the US House of Representatives. At the time Diggs first entered office, his colleagues included representatives William Dawson from Chicago, and Adam Clayton Powell from Harlem. Diggs was able to politically exist in the middle of Dawson, who was more conservative, and Powell, who was more progressive for that time. Diggs’ ability to carve out a path more in the middle allowed him to garner support as he was the main legislator behind the creation of the law that helped give home rule to DC. Diggs was also involved in the law that would desegregate the airlines. He was particularly skilled at coalition building, and was part of what became an anti-apartheid movement in the 1960s, and was a supporter of the civil rights movement.
Diggs would be more of a celebrated figure in African-American political history – which includes being the first chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, but his public career would later end in scandal.
This was a deeply researched read about a man whose name should be more known. If you
September 7, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews