Where are my history readers? I’m starting this book today and I am sure that it’s going to be the kind of book that needs discussion afterwards. Who wants to also also read it and discuss afterwards?
It’s about the Emmett Till murder, the Delta area of Mississippi, Annabell, Mississippi, good and bad. Wright Thompson, the author, is also the author of Pappyland and the executive producer of my favorite show, TrueSouth. And I readily admit, I have had a major writer crush on Wright for a long time. I got to meet him last month when he did an author talk here about the book.
If you don’t have a local independent bookstore, you can order here:
What about setting December 1 as the deadline to finish the book? That gives people time to get it and to read it, plus we have a holiday in there and other things taking up peoples time and attention.
I have two co-workers, both from that area, one is black and one is white. One I’ve known for 30+ years and the other very recently joined the Firm. The one I’ve known for 30 years is from a small town near to where Morgan Freeman is from (and lives). He is going to read The Barn in December after a big work project is finished. I will definitely get his thoughts on the book.
The other guy - his family owns hundreds of acres in the Delta. I’ve only recently met him but there is something about him I don’t like (can’t put my finger on exactly what it is yet).
I also have my experience of visiting that area multiple times and sitting down with a former co-worker who went to law school there and hearing about his experiences.
The guy I purchased my 1983 VW Vanagon Westfalia camper from grew up in that area and still has family there. He advised me, even as a white guy, never go there, especially in the van. Justice is pretty local.
His family is generations old from there so he carried privileges.
The first time we went to the Delta (for a bike ride), we had lunch at a deli that a friend from Nashivlle recommended (friend is from that general area and was a friend of a friend of the owner). We had a great lunch (my first time having Delta tamales) and met the owner. She was telling us about the bike course and gave us her phone number if we had any bike issues and needed a ride since it went right by her house (though the ride had SAG). She said, "Be careful on x Road - those ******s drive fast on that road and might hit you. We said thank you and left.
No issues on the ride. And we met a lovely guy who rode with us. He and his husband live there and his father was a Baptist preacher. I had so many questions! He and his husband had had to go to Massachusettes to get married. We talked about him growing up there, his relationship with his dad (which was by then very very good) and he was thrilled to hear about my former co-worker who was one of the plaintiffs in the Tennessee action, Tanco v. Haslam which was part of Obergefell v. Hodges.
It’s a very interesting place, both good and bad, and I’m fascinated by it.
I finally had a work trip, which meant an interrupted time to read on the plane and at the airport, and I finished it this morning. A lot to think about. And I really want to get back to Mississippi to visit that area again. I’ve been to Oxford, Greenville and Greenwood, but not up where the barn is. And, come to find out one of my coworkers that I’ve known for 30 years is from around there. He’s reading it so I am looking forward to discussing it with him.