In the Wee Hours of the Morning, (AKA The First Death of Innocence)

[AthenaAwakened]

I was four, a week or so shy of my fifth birthday. We were visiting my father's family in Putnam county GA. My father left our family home, which was now my aunt Lucille's house, early that morning. He and my Uncle Dave were going into town to spend the day with my uncle Will. My uncle was a business man. He owned a store, a juke joint, and he ran the family farm.

He and Poppa and uncle Duck (Uncle Dave's nickname) were hanging out in the juke joint laughing and talking the way brothers do when the sheriff came in. Uncle Will and the sheriff exchanged words, the kind of words two married men exchange over a woman neither one of them is married to.

Thing got heated and the sheriff threatened my uncle. My uncle reached under the bar, came up with a shotgun, laid it on the counter, and asked the sheriff to leave. The sheriff left. The day went on.

In the wee hours of the next morning, my uncles and my father were walking to my uncle Will's house. The sheriff pulled up behind them, stuck a shotgun out the window of his car, and shot my uncle Will in the back of the head then left him in a ditch to gulp and die.

My father returned to us just before dawn, his brother's blood on his shirt, his trousers, his skin.

The white man who caused this woe, even with a parade of witnesses, was exonerated at trial and never served a day for murder of Ed Willie Simmons.

There isn't a black family in America that does not have similar stories to tell, and sadly those stories are still happening today.

So yeah, I talk about race and racism. And I will keep on getting the word out until I die.

 

[laughing dog]

I am sorry for your loss. It is an American disgrace that so many black families have tragedies in their family history.

 

[Canard DuJour]

I was four, a week or so shy of my fifth birthday. We were visiting my father's family in Putnam county GA. My father left our family home, which was now my aunt Lucille's house, early that morning. He and my Uncle Dave were going into town to spend the day with my uncle Will. My uncle was a business man. He owned a store, a juke joint, and he ran the family farm.

He and Poppa and uncle Duck (Uncle Dave's nickname) were hanging out in the juke joint laughing and talking the way brothers do when the sheriff came in. Uncle Will and the sheriff exchanged words, the kind of words two married men exchange over a woman neither one of them is married to.

Thing got heated and the sheriff threatened my uncle. My uncle reached under the bar, came up with a shotgun, laid it on the counter, and asked the sheriff to leave. The sheriff left. The day went on.

In the wee hours of the next morning, my uncles and my father were walking to my uncle Will's house. The sheriff pulled up behind them, stuck a shotgun out the window of his car, and shot my uncle Will in the back of the head then left him in a ditch to gulp and die.

My father returned to us just before dawn, his brother's blood on his shirt, his trousers, his skin.

The white man who caused this woe, even with a parade of witnesses, was exonerated at trial and never served a day for murder of Ed Willie Simmons.

There isn't a black family in America that does not have similar stories to tell, and sadly those stories are still happening today.

So yeah, I talk about race and racism. And I will keep on getting the word out until I die.

If Toni Morrison and Elmore Leonard had a baby...

 

[Arctish]

AthenaAwakened, I am truly saddened that you and your family endured such a terrible loss. I hope you will continue to talk about race and racism. Too many people want to pretend it's all in the past but the damage it does is ongoing and outrageous. And please continue to post your thoughts on Feminism. Your voice is important, and your point of view helps each of us see things from a broader perspective.

 

[southernhybrid]

it's good that you shared your tragic story. It's a terrible thing to be the victim of racism and I see it happening in my own small racially diverse city once in awhile. Fortunately, with far less tragic consequences than those in the distant past. I will share one or two.

A few months ago, my husband and I were on our way to a small restaurant in our town, when we saw the police attempting to pull over a car. The car didn't stop immediately, but moved slowly to the front of the restaurant. At first I wondered why, but then Dedra, one of the assistant managers, who is black, ran over to the car and started to talk to the police. a couple of young black males got out of the car, while she was speaking. After several minutes, the police left and the young men drove off.

As soon as we got into the restaurant, we asked Dedra what had happened, as we frequent the restaurant and are very fond of her. She said that the driver was her son, and the police pulled him over for a broken tail light. The police insisted that all of the young men in the car present their IDs. Dedra has a degree in law enforcement and knew that this is against federal law, and she told the police that. They told her that the local policy is to insist on seeing the IDs of anyone in a car that contained two or more black males. WTF! That's how blatant they were. We told her how sorry we were that folks like her were treated this way.

I talk about racism on almost a daily basis whenever their is a reason. My black friends are so tolerant that all I can do is admire their strength, and sense of humor. I'm not going to positively or negatively stereotype any group of people, but just about every black person that I've met in my small city, most of them are over 50, has been so gracious and kind to me. I can't understand or accept what is lurking in the minds of those who would treat one group of people with such disdain, and suspicion. It's sickening and on my mind daily. And, when a white acquaintence says something that sounds racist to me, I immediately challenge them. My favorite excuse is "Oh, I'm not racist. I have a black friend". Perhaps that's an improvement since the earlier times in our country, but it still doesn't excuse the generalizations that they make about people with a culture a little different from their own, or with skin tones of a darker hue.

My husband is of Arabic descent and I've personally witnessed what appears to be bias against him by the police. When he used to have to fly sometimes for his job, he was always pulled aside, questioned and searched. After 911, any Arabic looking male with a beard was often looked at with suspicion by those in positions of authority.

I wish that every person of light color, ( I'm not white. I'm light beige must never lose sense of humor ) would read the excellent book, "White Rage", by Carol Anderson Phd. Then perhaps they would have a better understanding of what people of darker color, have experienced in both the north and the south.

I grew up in the northeast and racism is just as strong there as it is down here in Georgia. It's just more subtle, because in my home state of NJ, black folks have been ghettoized in a few larger urban areas, with poor schools and few opportunities. There are a few very diverse cities like Montclair and Morristown, where more affluenct blacks and whites live and work together, but those are rare. Or let's put it this way. Once a black coworker, who I worked with in Atlanta, said this to me. "I'd much rather have to deal with a southern racist than with a northern racist, because at least I know where I stand with the southern racist".

As long as humans remain ignorant, and fearful of people who have different cultural views, different beliefs, or different physical features, I don't know if this will ever change. But as we used to say, ( perhaps naively, ) in the late 60s, "Fight the Power".

 

[Lion IRC]

"...Uncle Will and the sheriff exchanged words, the kind of words two married men exchange over a woman neither one of them is married to."

This part intrigued me.
Wasn't this, rather than racial identity, the real catalyst?

 

[laughing dog]

"...Uncle Will and the sheriff exchanged words, the kind of words two married men exchange over a woman neither one of them is married to."

This part intrigued me.
Wasn't this, rather than racial identity, the real catalyst?

Yeah, that's the reason the sheriff got away with cold-blooded murder.

 

[Lion IRC]

No.
Exhonerated in a court of law does not mean..."got away with cold-blooded murder"
That "parade of witnesses" might have been what got him acquitted.

Be careful what you say on the internet. There's enough here to potentially identify the person you're defaming.

 

[laughing dog]

No.
Exhonerated in a court of law does not mean..."got away with cold-blooded murder"
That "parade of witnesses" might have been what got him acquitted.

Doubling down on missing the point is not a convincing argument, especially when those "witnesses" were lying to allow the sheriff to get away with murder.

 

[Jarhyn]

No.
Exhonerated in a court of law does not mean..."got away with cold-blooded murder"
That "parade of witnesses" might have been what got him acquitted.

Be careful what you say on the internet. There's enough here to potentially identify the person you're defaming.

There's nothing defaming here. Defamation requires a lie and I see no lie here. Just a truth that has had so many racists shit on it, that it is now difficult to see, because of aforementioned racist shitting. A sheriff murdered someone for racial reasons in cold blood and a racist community stood behind him for racist reasons. Then again, maybe it's best the sheriff not be identified. Who knows? Maybe someone would look him up and put a shotgun round through the back of his head, and we just can't stand for that, right?

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

Tragic story. Is it raised to allege racism? Because if it is, what in it convinces you that either the crime or the verdict were racially motivated? Is it just because the victim is black and the accused is white?

So many questions unanswered:

What was said in this argument in the bar? Was it racial. Story doesn't say so. If it was, why wasn't this mentioned in the story?

Is there any history between this particular officer and this particular victim? Did the others with the uncle in the bar have any history with this officer? If so, what is it?

Is there any history of racism accusations against this particular officer?

Why did the uncle have a shotgun hidden under the bar? Did he have enemies he wanted to be prepared for? Enemies who could have been who shot him later in the drive by shooting?

Was the "parade of witnesses" the others who had been in the bar earlier with the uncle witnessing (or possibly engaging in?) the argument and threats each way? Story says officer threatened uncle (how so?) and that uncle pulled a gun out to threaten officer. Or were these new passersby who were not there? That may have put the image of this officer strong in the minds of people watching this.

What was the testimony of the witnesses? Did they get a good look at the assailant? How good is their evidence that it was the officer?

What was the officer's alibi? Where did he say he was at the time of the crime? Did he have witnesses vouching for this? Are they random passerbys or people who may be motivated to lie for him?

Who was the judge? Is there evidence that the judge was biased?

 

[Elixir]

There's enough here to potentially identify the person you're defaming.

Is it defamation if they deserve it?
Personally I have no sympathy for a racist murderer who is "defamed", even if he is outed.

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

There's enough here to potentially identify the person you're defaming.

Is it defamation if they deserve it?
Personally I have no sympathy for a racist murderer who is "defamed", even if he is outed.

Why are you convinced he is a racist murderer? This story is enough to convince you?

 

[laughing dog]

Tragic story. Is it raised to allege racism? Because if it is, what in it convinces you that either the crime or the verdict were racially motivated? Is it just because the victim is black and the accused is white?

So many questions unanswered...

Only under the assumptions that
1)AA's uncles were mistaken or lying, and
2) that area of the South during that time was not under the thrall of Jim Crow and overt racism.

 

[southernhybrid]

If you think this murder wasn't racist, you really have no idea about all the horrible things that black folks were subjected to in the US, especially in the south during the period of time that this took place.

Two of you don't even live in the US and probably never read any of the books that describe all of the racist atrocities that happened long after slavery was officially ended. Historically, those in power, never wanted black folks to advance. They didn't want them to be educated or to vote. They never saw them as equals and often felt it was just fine and dandy to treat black folks as inferior.

What we Americans were taught in US history class was an idealistic, dare I say, "whitewashed" version of history that hid the unpleasant facts and never mentioned the horrible things that were done to black people post slavery. I hope you all will educate yourselves about racism in the US.

Even those we were taught to admire the most, ie Abe Lincoln, had racist streaks. SCOTUS in those days often voted to uphold racist policies. And, these things weren't limited to the south. Northern racism was and still is rampant. Many of the shootings by the police of unarmed black men were committed in northern cities.

When we elected our first black president, many of us had hope. But this hope vanished after we saw all the racist lies and attacks on our president's character, primarily due to the color of his skin.

It's no wonder that Athena rarely posts here anymore. She tells us a story about a tragic event that happened to a member of her extended family, and some of you try to deny the obvious racism involved in what happened. It's just ignorant to not understand that what happened to her family member, also happened to many other black folks, especially males, during this period of time.

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

Tragic story. Is it raised to allege racism? Because if it is, what in it convinces you that either the crime or the verdict were racially motivated? Is it just because the victim is black and the accused is white?

So many questions unanswered...

Only under the assumptions that
1)AA's uncles were mistaken or lying, and
2) that area of the South during that time was not under the thrall of Jim Crow and overt racism.

You have those assumptions reversed. The person who would ask these questions isn't assuming anything. The person failing to ask these questions is making the assumptions. And more than the ones you list.

 

[laughing dog]

Tragic story. Is it raised to allege racism? Because if it is, what in it convinces you that either the crime or the verdict were racially motivated? Is it just because the victim is black and the accused is white?

So many questions unanswered...

Only under the assumptions that
1)AA's uncles were mistaken or lying, and
2) that area of the South during that time was not under the thrall of Jim Crow and overt racism.

You have those assumptions reversed. The person who would ask these questions isn't assuming anything. The person failing to ask these questions is making the assumptions. And more than the ones you list.

I agree that the person who is not asking those questions is assuming that AA's story is accurate. That assumption might be based on the knowledge of the history of that region during that time and the assumption of AA's integrity.
The person asking those questions is making the assumptions I listed.

 

[laughing dog]

It's no wonder that Athena rarely posts here anymore. She tells us a story about a tragic event that happened to a member of her extended family, and some of you try to deny the obvious racism involved in what happened. It's just ignorant to not understand that what happened to her family member, also happened to many other black folks, especially males, during this period of time.

It may not be solely due to ignorance. Some people are unable or unwilling to face unpleasant truths about their country or their fellow citizens. And then there are a few people who simply are willing to find excuses for all sorts of deplorable actions and behavior.

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

If you think this murder wasn't racist, you really have no idea about all the horrible things that black folks were subjected to in the US, especially in the south during the period of time that this took place.

This is a logical fallacy. Even with the south being super racist against black people doesn't mean this particular incident or aquital was race based.

What we Americans were taught in US history class was an idealistic, dare I say, "whitewashed" version of history that hid the unpleasant facts and never mentioned the horrible things that were done to black people post slavery. I hope you all will educate yourselves about racism in the US.

This is also a weird logical fallacy. It has no bearing on the story in the OP and makes presumptions against people you write to in a weird sort of adhom. If I knew absolutely zero about the USA, that wouldn't make it right to leap to the conclusions you want to to leap to.

It's no wonder that Athena rarely posts here anymore. She tells us a story about a tragic event that happened to a member of her extended family, and some of you try to deny the obvious racism involved in what happened.

Is this drive by post about her family? Or is this something she cut and posted here from somewhere else? Not that it matters, but I really can't tell. But her recent infrequent posting doesn't make your point for you. The racism isn't obvious in this story at all. And it could be if told differently. What was the argument in the bar about? Was it racial? Did this particular officer have race hatred towards this man who pulled out a gun on him earlier in the day? I won't leap to that conclusion. Did the judge dismiss the murder accusation due to racism? I won't leap to that conclusion either. Not without actual evidence. I need more than victim black, cop white, racist era of history, therefore it was the cop that killed him and it was racist murder.

It's just ignorant to not understand that what happened to her family member, also happened to many other black folks, especially males, during this period of time.

Something happening to others does not mean it happened in this case. You are arguing for racial profiling.

 

[Elixir]

Why are you convinced he is a racist murderer? This story is enough to convince you?

Yes. I see no reason why AA would make up a story of a tragedy that follows the same pattern as countless other events, just to stir ire in this forum. Do you?