Carl Maxey: A Fighting Life

A true story following the life of Carl Maxey, eastern Washington's first black attorney. As a person who grew up in eastern Washington, it was curious for me to learn about Maxey as a civil rights leader. From the book, I gained insight and an education about the history of my area during the 1920's to the 1990's. I developed tremendous respect for this man who I remember reading about in the paper, in real time, so many years ago. Since I lived some of the time that Carl Maxey lived,being born in the 1940's, I liked the perspective of looking back and reflecting on my thoughts then, and my thoughts now.

Jim Kershner writes a riveting story of Carl Maxey who literally fought his way out of the depths of poverty to become a champion of civil rights and Anti war protests. An African American who practiced in a predominately conservative, white town, Maxey left a huge footprint on the city of Spokane, from challenging "Blue Laws" to fighting segregation. Kershner presents a well rounded picture of Maxey, from his days in a scandal ridden orphan home through his career as an outstanding collegiate boxer at Gonzaga, on to his Anti War candidacy for US Senate. Kershner succeeds in showing that this man who achieved greatness was also a troubled man with many faults. A must read for anyone wanting to read about the turbulent sixties or Northwest political history.

Carl Maxey: A Fighting Life (V Ethel Willis White Books) Carl Maxey grew up as an essential orphan. He was at one point kicked out of an orphanage for being black. Despite his Dickensian upbringing, Maxey went on to graduate from the Gonzaga Law School and become Eastern Washington's first black lawyer. In his second to last year in school, he was also the national NCAA boxing champion. This man single-handedly integrated much of Spokane and is one of the most dynamic, interesting figures of Washington state.

Even if Carl Maxey had not become a local hero, Jim Kershner's book would still be worth reading. Kershner shows, through Maxey's example, that one person can make a difference. Sadly, it seems Maxey was his own worst critic--he believed that he had not done enough.

Jim Kershner has used his considerable skills as a reporter to write a fascinating biography of Carl Maxey, one of the most charismatic personalities to come out of Washington State and Spokane. But the book should be of interest to readers well beyond the borders of the state of Washington. I would be very surprised if a copy of this book does not end up in many personal libraries and just about every law office in Washington State if not the entire nation. It reads much like a front-page story that just keeps getting more and more absorbing as the text continues on for almost 250 pages. Carl Maxey, having been born to an unwed mother, and having been placed in an orphanage in Spokane eventually worked his way up to becoming a competitive athlete, a national collegiate boxing champion, a college graduate, and the first black lawyer in Spokane. His practice led him to appear in some of the most high-profile murder, anti-Vietnam War, and civil rights cases in Washington state. In 1970 he challenged Henry "Scoop" Jackson for the Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. Senate. In 1976 he was on the Washington State ballot for president as Senator Eugene McCarthy's stand in vice presidential candidate. He remained a fighter for civil rights and social justice until his death in 1997. Kershner, in doing research for the book, utilized numerous newspaper sources, library records, personal papers and interviews with thirty Maxey family members and people who worked with him. Still, because he was so well known and came into contact with so many people, there are undoubtedly hundreds of people in Spokane and elsewhere who, when they read the book, feel, "Oh man, I wish Kershner had interviewed me I would have told him about ..."