6.125 inches x 8.5 inches (15.6 centimeters x 21.6 centimeters)
Paper Stock
bond; cardstock cover
Binding
squarebound
Publishing Format
graphic novel
Issue Notes
In the Author's Note Mark Long (who appears as a character in the story, along with his family) explains that the story has been to some extent "fictionalized" for storytelling purposes.
John V. Long [John Long] [Jack Long]; Larry Thomas; Patricia Long; Mark; Julie; Shell; Barbara Thomas; Jim Derrick; District Attorney Atwell; Mr. Reeve; station manager
Synopsis
Jack Long, newly arrived in Houston as a white television news reporter, covers unrest at historically African American Texas Southern University and develops a contact there in the person of Larry Thomas. At first seeing each other only in terms of their usefulness, each begins to think of actually befriending the other. The station owner tells Jack to press on in covering the trial of Samuel Otis for murder, as the D.A. is likely railroading Otis for racial and political reasons. The station manager angrily orders Jack to back off.
John V. Long [John Long] [Jack Long]; Larry Thomas; Patricia Long; Mark; Julie; Shell; Barbara Thomas; Danny; Celia [CC]; Reverend; District Attorney Atwell; Mr. Reeve; station manager [Leon]; Bill; police; demonstrators; Judge Andrew Boyd
Synopsis
The two families each make the first cross-racial visit in their respective neighborhoods. Jack films a demonstration which turns violent when police attack, firing indiscriminately and arresting nearly 500, five of whom they charge in the death of a police officer. The D.A. uses Jack's film to claim that police were fired on from inside a dormitory, but Jack insists in court that the officer was shot by a fellow policeman. The jury finds the defendants innocent, and severely criticizes the police for brutality. Rejoicing is great until news arrives of the murder of Martin Luther King.