Yesterday marked the anniversary of slain civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday in many parts of the world. This is a recurring reminder that with civil protest, society has the ability to influence and encourage their government in addressing racial inequality. Some have considered the early 1960s as the apex of the Civil Rights movement. This tumultuous period in what has been deemed a modern and advanced nation was characterized by sit-ins, marches, protests and normalized hate crimes. Some demanded that schools integrate in order for the disenfranchised to receive equal opportunity as others. Others promulgated 'separate but equal' in these and similar institutions on the condition that facilities, supplies and services were maintained at the same level. This culminated into a societal and governmental confrontation. Poverty was highlighted and promises were made. Nonetheless, those who sought the betterment of their futures and those of the country they were made to call home let their voices to be heard. Most are aware that the United States' government enacted a subsequent Civil Rights Act during this decade.

Yet, the United States was not the only nation state that enacted legislation promoting racial equality in the modern era. In 1965, with Queen Elizabeth II's approval, the UK Parliament passed the Race Relations Act which prohibited racial discrimination. The legislation marked a milestone in England's progression in racial politics, yet many people across the world are unaware of this British complement to American law. However, there would remain those on both side of the racial divide, both in America and within Great Britain who only sought to exacerbate past racial wounds.

This is most commonly achieved with rhetoric aimed at the unaware and the volatile, as well as those who seek to project personal shortcomings under the veil of human and civil rights solidarity. Among the disenfranchised, colourism was also part of the racial ammunition used—but not as a retaliatory thwart. Rather it was used as a manipulative tool to further oppress the very people exalting their voices for equality—by those same people. For instance, blacks in America used the paperbag test to determine whether an individual was worthy of inclusion of a social gathering. If one was lighter than the paperbag, they were allowed entry, otherwise the interested subject would be denied. Blacks created their own racial caste system among themselves that exists today. Those who are easily categorized on the acceptable side of the 'paperbag' spectrum are exalted as de facto leaders of the oppressed, though they have never experienced what the common black had, nor had any sincere interest in understanding it. They have already been exalted among the disillusioned 'Negro' who believed that if their woes were filtered through the lips of someone resembling whom they deemed as the oppressor, their claims would be considered more legitimate by the broader society. In this instance, both the 'supporter' and the appointed face use one another. However, upon discovery, they have only invalidated themselves and any potential claims they have asserted.

Not everything is as it seems. Protests, riots and someone who hides under the flame that scorches the possibility of improving race relations in America during the Civil Rights era. This was the demise of one young woman in a town of New York. She used her fair appearance to deceive both blacks and whites in the hopes of monetizing her newly exalted position. She would stop at nothing to remain on this unstable social pedestal only acknowledged by a few. Lack of oratory skills, talent, and inordinate self-aggrandizement easily led to her downfall. Her husband, one of the local detectives assigned to investigate the murders at recent protests along with Detective Jacqueline Sadie Thompson would be able to link at least two major--and heinous crimes directly to her. This woman was responsible for the attempted murder of Thompson and her Anglo-British husband, William. Though she did not live to meet the hand of justice, her husband Sebastian and Jacqueline were able to uncover the truth. This is the story of Murder By Dissent.

Murder By Dissent is available as an ebook with these online retailers:

Barnes & Noble: 2940164853396

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(Reference: Race Relations Act 1965
https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/relationships/collections1/race-relations-act-1965/race-relations-act-1965/)

About the Author: Patricia M. Muhammad is a multi-genre fiction author. She writes in science-fiction/fantasy, fantasy, contemporary romance crossover, historical romance, magical realism, and mystery/detective romance genres. Patricia often includes multi-racial characters and interracial relationships in her books. She has written 22 novels.

Connect with Patricia:
Social Media: @pmmuhammadbooks
Press: [email protected]
Web: https://www.pmmuhammadbooks.webnode.com

**CONTENT WARNING: Mild note: The protagonist and her husband share intimate moments-often. Although there is only mention of legs, arms, embraces and kisses, the remaining descriptions I use allegory and references to nature to describe their intimacy. This may be considered mild to moderately "Steamy" depending on the potential reader's inclination.

Moderate to severe discretion (abridged): This book is a work of fiction. However, the author intended to create characters and settings historically accurate to the era it takes place in, the racially tumultuous 1960s. Certain terms used as racial descriptions now considered archaic, outdated or even offensive are used to reflect the past usage by both black and white Americans of that era.

Additional note: A portion of the main plot revolves a pivotal scene in which a few people are injured due to an explosion which destroys a building. This notice is to advise those who may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder ("PTSD") concerning traumatic events based the recollection of certain sounds or the imagery which may encompass them both.