Mississippi's lynching legacy is extensive. From 1882 through 1968, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 539 blacks and 42 whites were lynched in the Magnolia State. Our state was the per capita leader in lynching murders and mob violence, and today there are many surviving family members who were alive when loved ones were lynched. Remember these records became funny after 1968 ...when a lot of lynchings then became suicides and accidental deaths... Did you know? Did you know that the pictures from lynchings were sold as souvenir postcards sometimes in sets showing the victim before during and after the lynching with peckerwoods smiling posing and such in shots with the lynching victim.... Funny how white folk and some Black folk now all want to say 9/11 we'll never forget all the while telling us to forget the lynchings that followed jubilee, the black codes and jim crow justice....lynchings that still happen now today in my own backyard to people that my parents know and knew....personally I've forgotten 9/11 already but will never forget our legacy of lynching it's victims call me at night and whisper in my ears during the day always saying the same thing.....don't forget us don't forget us Red never never!!!!!! Mississippi Red I'm not from Mississippi I am Mississippi :maddd:
June 16, 2000 Kokomo Mississippi Raynard Johnson was found hanging from a pecan tree in the front yard of his family's home. Ruled a suicide. Funny thing is he had white friends and dated a white girl...He was 17 years old at the time of his death. Mississippi Red
His name was Jesse Washington, a 17-year-old black youth who was born in rural Texas in 1897. He worked on a farm outside Waco which belonged to George and Lucy Fryer. In May, 1916, Washington was convicted in City Court of murdering Lucy Fryer. During the proceedings, he apologized and confessed to the crime. At the end of the trial, Washington was sentenced to death by hanging. Residents, however, were already in an uproar over the crime. A black man who attacked a white woman in any way whatsoever during that era in the South evoked little sympathy from the public. Within five minutes of the sentencing, dozens of court spectators jumped the railing, fought with officials and seized the terrified defendant. He was immediately set upon by a vicious gang using clubs, shovels and bricks. He was stripped naked and dragged kicking and screaming to the lawn directly in front of City Hall. Townspeople had already built a giant bonfire underneath a large tree. The crowd was later estimated to be as large as 15,000 people. Included in the cheering multitude was the Police Chief and the Mayor of Waco. Other police officers also stood by during the sickening ordeal which played out in the symbolic shadow of City Hall Washington was immersed in coal oil, hoisted up onto the tree and slowly lowered into the fire. Some of the spectators cut off fingers and toes from the corpse as souvenirs . His remains were dumped into a burlap bag and hung from a pole while many in the crowd cheered James Irwin was lynched on January 31, 1930. Irwin was accused of the murder of a white girl in the town of Ocilla, Georgia. Taken into custody by a rampaging mob, his fingers and toes were cut off, his teeth pulled out by pliers and finally he was castrated. It still wasn’t enough. Irwin was then burned alive in front of hundreds of onlookers . One of the reasons that has been listed for lynching and this is true was unpopularity... I got a link for yall to check out I know it should probably be on the links section but it's relevant to this tread.. http://www.maafa.org/ http://www.americanlynching.com/photos-old.htm Mississippi Red
Hello Family, Brother Amun-Ra wrote a short article titled, " The Lynched". Just thought i'd share. Destee
Thanks for that ...good read... "Southern trees bear a strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black body swinging in the Southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees. Pastoral scene of the gallant South, The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth, Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh, And the sudden smell of burning flesh! Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck, For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck, For the sun to rot, for a tree to drop, Here is a strange and bitter crop."