Magic City is a historical fiction based on an ugly and a deeply buried piece of American history. It was originally published in 1997 and newly re-issued on May, 2021 on the 100th anniversary of the tragic event.

It is 1921. In the Deep Greenwood section of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a young Black man Joe Samuels dreams of becoming Houdini. Struggling with his brother’s death and his father’s indifference, Joe wants to escape Tulsa to live the life of his dreams. 

Few streets away, Mary Keane, a White woman lives with her father and a disabled brother in a farm. One day, their hired hand Dell rapes her. Dell tries to sway her father in marrying Mary to him so that he can take control of the farm. Unable to take such atrocity, she walks out into the town intending not to return and make a life for herself.

Fate brings these two broken individuals together under unusual circumstances and their lives intertwine. It leaves them in the midst of a horrific crime against humanity. 

How did it make me feel?

First of all, I am ashamed of the fact that I came to know about Tulsa massacre only a few months ago. A quick research tells me that, like countless other atrocities against the African-American community, this was another chapter that was downplayed, dismissed and even denied. Just goes to show how much work is still needed to combat racial discrimination.

Joe and Mary’s story is fictional but it breaks my heart to think just how many such stories, real stories, perished in the fire that engulfed Greenwood. I absolutely loved the writing by Rhodes. The parts where the characters linger in their dreams and register their realities were heartbreakingly beautiful.

Magic City is a journey of the characters trying to save their soul, one way or the other. I absolutely loved it!

Get this incredible story, resting upon an important piece of history from Amazon. If you use my link to buy, I may get a small commission at NO additional cost to you! It will help me keep my blog running! 🙂 Thank you for your support!