Mary M. Stolberg, a historian and a former reporter for the Pittsburgh Press, devotes her time to writing. She is the author of Fighting Organized Crime (Northeastern University Press, 1995) and Looking Beyond Race: The Life of Otis Milton Smith (Wayne State University Press, 2000).

Stolberg's compelling book tells the story of the political career of George Edwards. Focusing on Edwards's term as police commissioner for Detroit, the author closely examines the strengths and weaknesses of liberalism as applied to community relations in the city.... The strength of this book is that it shows that determined leadership can make a difference.... Students of urban affairs, African American history, and law enforcement can gain valuable insights from this work. - Choice ""In her book, Ms. Stolberg lets us meet Judge Edwards in a glorious testimony to his early works while at the same time providing a scholarly work for those studying American racial politics from our century's midpoint."" - The Cincinnati Post