A Time to Kill (Jake Brigance, #1)

by John Grisham

“I’m saying there’s as much racism in New York as in Mississippi. Look at our public schools—they’re as desegregated as any.” “By court order.” “Sure, but what about the courts in New York. For years you pious bastards pointed your fingers and noses at us down here and demanded that we desegregate. It happened, and it has not been the end of the world. But you’ve conveniently ignored your own schools and neighborhoods, your own voting irregularities, your own all-white juries and city councils. We were wrong, and we’ve paid dearly for it. But we learned, and although the change has been slow and painful, at least we’re trying. Y’all are still pointing fingers.”