News

The Quiet Lynching of Jesse Lee Bond - Two Minute Video

Matteo and I have been collaborating on this amazing story for almost a year. With the help of historians, archivists, and the energy and expertise of the people working with The Lynching Sites Project of Memphis, we have very nearly completed research on historical background of this tragedy. We have scouted and filmed almost all the major locations associated with this lynching, and have identified and located descendants of the families and individuals involved in the lynching and are now in the process of interviewing those willing to talk.

Ida B. Wells: The Lynching at the Curve (Feature film coming 2018)

March 9, 1892- Three African American businessmen, Thomas Moss, Calvin McDowell, and Will Stewart, were murdered at the hands of a mob in Memphis, TN simply for running a better business than their white competitor. The lynching of these men, well respected in the African American community of Memphis, outraged Wells. Emboldened, Wells furiously fought against those who participated in, or ignored, violence against African Americans.

Historical markers will show 'how hate can afflict a community'

Two markers will memorialize the tragic and shameful events that occurred here in the spring of 1917.

Both markers, approved Thursday by the Shelby County Historical Commission, will mention the two victims of those events.

Antoinette Rappel, a 15-year-old white girl who was brutally assaulted and murdered on her way to school April 30, 1917.

Ell Persons, a 50-something black woodcutter accused of the crime who was brutally assaulted and murdered by a lynch mob May 22 that year.

How the Location of the Peoples Grocery Lynching Was Rediscovered

Illustration of the Peoples Grocery Lynching from the March 10th, 1892 edition of the Memphis Appeal-Avalanche

Historically, the Peoples Grocery Lynching is one of the most important lynchings in American history for at least two reasons. First, it caused a large proportion of the African-American community to flee Memphis. Second, it convinced Ida B. Wells to conduct a census of lynchings which systemically researched, catalogued, categorized, and analyzed lynchings in America.

Local news coverage of the 125th anniversary of People's Grocery Lynchings

"More than 120 years ago, a tragedy in Memphis made the front page of the New York Times. Thursday marks the 125th anniversary of the People's Grocery Store Lynching..."

Focusing on local history (Commercial Appeal Letter to the Editor)

These men and this story need to be remembered by white Memphians in a spirit of reverence and repentance. Their memory should be honored by all of us as respected, successful citizens.

Roger Taney, Dred Scott families reconcile 160 years after infamous Supreme Court decision

"The Scotts and the Taneys believe that Americans should learn from their history, not bury their history," they have said in a joint statement.

High Ground News article on LSP

“This country is what it is because (African-Americans) gave our full share and our full measure, as everyone else did. The difference is that we were denied the benefits of our labor,” he said. “When we look today at the problems in the black neighborhoods, we can look back and see that is because we were denied the benefits of our contributions. So, it’s important now to go back and look and understand the truth.”

Emmett Till's accuser admits her testimony was fabricated

The accuser "confessed that she had fabricated the most sensational part of her testimony...Her changed attitude, if genuine, might have real meaning today, what with a polarized electorate, renewed racial tensions, and organizations and Web sites promoting white supremacy.

Podcast: ID'ing lynching sites 'important for healing'

After four decades in the Army and the airline industry, John Ashworth is taking on a new challenge. Reclaiming history.

The Past for the Future, by Joshua Cannon

by Andrea Morales - The Persons lynching site

African-American historian John Ashworth will lead a citywide interfaith prayer service May 21st at the site where Persons was murdered, nearly 100 years to the date it occurred. Newspapers in 1917 created a spectacle of Persons' death for days leading to it, gathering thousands of people to what is now Summer and the Wolf River. After he was set afire, Persons was decapitated and taken to Beale Street, and his head was hurled at a group of black pedestrians.

Bryan Stevenson of EJI interviewed by The Intercept

Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images for POLITICO

Another great interview with Bryan Stevenson (excerpt): "Part of our work is aimed at trying to re-engage this country with an awareness and understanding of how our history of racial inequality continues to haunt us. I don’t think we’re free in America — I think we’re all burdened by this history of racial injustice, which has created a narrative of racial difference, which has infected us, corrupted us, and allowed us to see the world through this lens. So it becomes necessary to talk about that history if we want to get free."

Obama Signs Emmett Till Bill To Reopen Unsolved Civil Rights Cases

The law calls for “the full accounting of all victims whose deaths or disappearances were the result of racially-motivated crimes” and for authorities to hold criminals accountable.

Introducing John Ashworth, Project Manager for May 2017 Events

We are pleased and excited to share with you the news that John Ashworth will begin work on January 1 for the Lynching Sites Project of Memphis as Project Manager for the May 21, 2017 centennial commemoration of the lynching of Ell Persons. John’s contract will extend through June 2017.

Christmas 1951: Murder of a civil rights pioneer (Harry T. Moore)

A early leader in the civil rights movement in Florida and the first NAACP official killed in the struggle for civil rights died on Dec. 25, 1951, when a bomb exploded under the floorboards of his bedroom. The murder, done by members of the Ku Klux Klan in retaliation for calls for action against a Southern white sheriff, was never officially solved.

A slave mother's love in 56 carefully stitched words

Auslander believes this bag is a national treasure. He says we often think of slavery in the terms of suffering but, “we have to remember the narratives of resilience, of courage and of family continuity. You can't imagine a family being more terribly torn apart than by then by a slave auction of a 9-year-old little girl, but this family story continued.”

What the lynching memorial will force us all to face

“The story of the Negro in America is the story of America,” Jackson says, employing the eloquent words of Baldwin. “It’s not a pretty story.” But it is a troubling and complex one we all must know and do a better job of understanding. Like the brand-new National Museum for African American History and Culture here in Washington, the Memorial to Peace and Justice in Alabama will make that task a little easier.

Bryan Stevenson of EJI on PBS Newshour last night

Bryan Stevenson was interviewed for 5 minutes or more on PBS Newshour last night:

Life stories are important. History matters. Memory is sacred – Join our work.

Dear Friends, our life stories are important. History matters. Many would say memory is sacred and that real human community is not possible without it. We belong to one another as human beings through the common stories of our families, our nation and our local community.

Volunteer Opportunities

Especially as we plan toward events from February through June 2017 we have many needs for volunteers in addition to the faithful force which is already at work. We need people who care about our mission in such areas as overall planning and coordination, writing, social media, publicity, research, supporting local high school students, engaging artists and musicians in the Project, engaging area religious leaders in the work, and fund-raising.

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