The last known public lynching probably occurred in 1969. Yet, the last
lynching I know of occurred in March of 1979 in Northern Georgia. Only three
months before I moved from Virginia to Georgia. I mention this because I did
not for the most part feel in fear of my life in the state. I did travel
alone in several of the southern counties of Georgia. Several of the
Caucasians I met did ameliorate my fears of the rural sections of Georgia.
But, there were some counties especially north of Atlanta that Blacks were
told never to let the sun set with them inside the county. And, I did not
tempt fate. 

As for those who in times past watched a public lynching, fear of judicial
reprisal was almost nonexistent as quite a few of the members of the crowd
were elected officials and members of the esteemed law enforcement. 

What is really amazing are the number of photographed hangings from the
lynching events as seen in the exhibits and book "Without Sanctuary"
occurred in the town square and sometimes just in front of the courthouse. 

But should we be shocked when we know of many brothers who fought against
each other in the American Civil War? It takes a lot of testicular fortitude
to speak out against injustice when you are only one against millions.

Glenn C. Gregory

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lyle E. Browning
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2007 8:36 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Topic Picnic and Its Derogatory Commitations along with Negro
Barbeques
Importance: High

Historic precedents are all well and good, in context, but those were  
state events, under the rule of law (I know, that's arguable, but  
that was the thesis), whereas lynchings are by their nature extra- 
legal. Crowds watching a state sanctioned execution were in no way  
legally at risk whereas by their participation, all attendees at a  
lynching were participants in the strict definition of the illegal  
event. Presumably, if a herd of these fine folk were to be arrested  
in the act, at the very least the ringleaders would be charged and  
presumably brought to justice. I would think that now, the herd would  
have all members arrested and charged to varying degrees in order to  
set the tone firmly against repetition. How times have changed for  
the better.

McKinley Morganfield in one of his numerous interviews mentioned that  
the last known lynching in the USA was in 1969 which I found quite  
shocking due to the late date. But without citation, I have no idea  
whether it was accurate or not.

Lyle Browning


On Jun 23, 2007, at 11:04 PM, James Brothers wrote:

> For years executions were public, drew large crowds, and were  
> considered a kind of "holiday". Huge crowds used to gather at  
> Tyburn to watch hangings in London. And equally huge crowds  
> gathered to watch the executions during the Terror in France. It is  
> therefor not really surprising that a lynching might elicit the  
> same kind of behavior. There is, unfortunately, historic  
> precedence. There are some mighty peculiar people out there. One  
> could argue that the extreme violence in many movies is feeding the  
> same impulses. Can't say that this is the kind of thing I would  
> want to attend and I'm not interested in gratuitous violence in  
> films either.
>
> James Brothers, RPA
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> On Jun 23, 2007, at 21:12, Lyle E. Browning wrote:
>
>> On Jun 23, 2007, at 8:30 PM, gcg wrote:
>>
>>> While there has been some discussion as to an urban legend that  
>>> the word
>>> picnic is derived from the term "pick a ni$$er," one can say that  
>>> this is
>>> not the case. Yet, with the majority of myths circulating if one  
>>> digs deep
>>> enough the is a modicum of truth that is usually wrapped in a lie.
>>>
>>> As genealogists, both amateur and professional, it is our duty to  
>>> seek the
>>> truth. The word picnic does have a connection not to derogatory  
>>> terms about
>>> African Americans. But, it does have a connection to derogatory  
>>> actions and
>>> terrorism done to African Americans.
>>>
>>> The lynching of African slave descendants in the South especially  
>>> during the
>>> post "Reconstruction" era and the days of the "Jim Crow" laws  
>>> took on morbid
>>> carnival atmospheres including picnics, picture taking, and  
>>> postcards. These
>>> are no urban legends. The work picnic can be considered  
>>> derogatory as these
>>> public spectacles and historical proof in the words of the  
>>> terrorists
>>> themselves are preserved for the whole world to see.
>>
>> ...snip...
>>>
>>> So now you know the rest of the story, and have a good picnic or  
>>> barbeque
>>> even though it is now illegal to watch a ni$$er swing.