I thoroughly enjoyed the process of writing Whistles and am excited to announce that I am now in the midst of writing another book titled The Trouble on Happy Hill.
In 1918, a white gentleman by the name of A.C. Price wrote a letter to the editor of the Tennesseean newspaper. Two young black boys had been executed by electrocution the day before in Nashville for raping a white girl. In his letter to the editor Mr. Price wrote:
‘There recently came to our observation two distinct cases, equally grievous in offence to us all—in one case a white man of mature year is the offender; in the other the two offenders are two Negro boys 15 and 17 years of age. “In the case of the white man, every influence obtainable was sought in his behalf, even your Honor assisting editorially all of which resulted in executive clemency being shown by the Governor of our state. In the case of the Negro boys, petitions from colored citizens all over the state bore appeal for mercy to no avail.
“Summary: the white man lives; the Negroes were executed.
“Permit me to ask: Are these two cases of such similarity in offense and so broadly different in penalty meted out worthy of observation?’
It is that same question I address in my new book. I will “observe” the judicial inequality of the times by following the cases of Homer Lawson (the white man in question), and the case of J.D. Williams and Eddie Alsup (the black boys who were put to death), who were all convicted of rape. By exploring the two cases “of such similarity in offense,” the book will reveal the historical background behind many of today’s policies and will re-ask the question first posed by Mr. Price almost a hundred years ago.
Are penalties still meted out in a “broadly different” way among the races?
Is that still worthy of our observation?
Come along with me as I attempt to answer these questions.
Join my new book writing adventure. Please clink on the link and like my new Facebook page. The Trouble on Happy Hill
I look forward to seeing you there!
In 1918, a white gentleman by the name of A.C. Price wrote a letter to the editor of the Tennesseean newspaper. Two young black boys had been executed by electrocution the day before in Nashville for raping a white girl. In his letter to the editor Mr. Price wrote:
‘There recently came to our observation two distinct cases, equally grievous in offence to us all—in one case a white man of mature year is the offender; in the other the two offenders are two Negro boys 15 and 17 years of age. “In the case of the white man, every influence obtainable was sought in his behalf, even your Honor assisting editorially all of which resulted in executive clemency being shown by the Governor of our state. In the case of the Negro boys, petitions from colored citizens all over the state bore appeal for mercy to no avail.
“Summary: the white man lives; the Negroes were executed.
“Permit me to ask: Are these two cases of such similarity in offense and so broadly different in penalty meted out worthy of observation?’
It is that same question I address in my new book. I will “observe” the judicial inequality of the times by following the cases of Homer Lawson (the white man in question), and the case of J.D. Williams and Eddie Alsup (the black boys who were put to death), who were all convicted of rape. By exploring the two cases “of such similarity in offense,” the book will reveal the historical background behind many of today’s policies and will re-ask the question first posed by Mr. Price almost a hundred years ago.
Are penalties still meted out in a “broadly different” way among the races?
Is that still worthy of our observation?
Come along with me as I attempt to answer these questions.
Join my new book writing adventure. Please clink on the link and like my new Facebook page. The Trouble on Happy Hill
I look forward to seeing you there!
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