Thomas F. (hardtack) -
This is a very interesting book about a dark event which occurred in 1916, in the county where I live. One night, deputy constable George Wynne and two others went to arrest a black man---Boisy Long---who Wynne strongly suspected of stealing hogs over a period of time. The result was Wynne was mortally wounded and another man shot. Boisy Long escaped, but two days later turned himself in after talking with a local Afro-American preacher.
George Wynne was well respected and was the brother of Fanny Wynne Dudley, the mother of the third generation of Dudley Farm, which is now a Florida State Historic Park and a National Historic Landmark. It is also a park where I've volunteered on a weekly basis for years, interpreting for visitors and doing farm chores.
George Wynne's death resulted in mob violence and the lynching of five, maybe six, Afro Americans who were related to Boisy Long. At least one was a woman; while another was a pregnant woman, who may or may not have been hanged. There are different stories about her, as she may have been released due to her pregnancy, and then left the area.
After over 100 years, this issue has been addressed by the community and some reconciliation has occurred. This includes an apology by the town of Newberry, erection of a historic memorial sign, and other measures.
While this is a story which needed to be told in detail, some parts of the book have inconsistencies which I identified based on my knowledge of Dudley family history. The author also makes numerous assuumptions in the book which I thought could not be verified. And in some cases, the timetable of events had apparent errors. I feel this may be more due to 'rushing' the book to print than deliberate misinterpretation by the author. These are the reasons I only gave the book 3.5 stars.
I've been told she now also volunteers at the park, but in a totally different area, so I haven't crossed paths with her yet. Hopefully, we'll meet and I'll ask her about the apparent problems I've identified. However, recently I met and spoke with the gentleman who discovered the two photographs of the mob and the aftermath of the lynching. These photographs were the catalyst which caused the author to write this book.
George Wynne was well respected and was the brother of Fanny Wynne Dudley, the mother of the third generation of Dudley Farm, which is now a Florida State Historic Park and a National Historic Landmark. It is also a park where I've volunteered on a weekly basis for years, interpreting for visitors and doing farm chores.
George Wynne's death resulted in mob violence and the lynching of five, maybe six, Afro Americans who were related to Boisy Long. At least one was a woman; while another was a pregnant woman, who may or may not have been hanged. There are different stories about her, as she may have been released due to her pregnancy, and then left the area.
After over 100 years, this issue has been addressed by the community and some reconciliation has occurred. This includes an apology by the town of Newberry, erection of a historic memorial sign, and other measures.
While this is a story which needed to be told in detail, some parts of the book have inconsistencies which I identified based on my knowledge of Dudley family history. The author also makes numerous assuumptions in the book which I thought could not be verified. And in some cases, the timetable of events had apparent errors. I feel this may be more due to 'rushing' the book to print than deliberate misinterpretation by the author. These are the reasons I only gave the book 3.5 stars.
I've been told she now also volunteers at the park, but in a totally different area, so I haven't crossed paths with her yet. Hopefully, we'll meet and I'll ask her about the apparent problems I've identified. However, recently I met and spoke with the gentleman who discovered the two photographs of the mob and the aftermath of the lynching. These photographs were the catalyst which caused the author to write this book.
