Action Corner

On Saturday, I wrote a letter to Felipe Matos, Gaby Pacheco, Carlos Roa, and Juan Rodriguez, the 4 students who walked the "Trail of Dreams", a 1500-mile hike from Miami to D.C. to protest current immigration laws for students. I told them how brave their actions are and why what they're doing is especially important considering what's happening in Arizona. I am going to raise money at school to help support those fighting the Dream Act because this country was and still is being built and strengthened by its immigrant communities. Stand by for more information about my fund raising efforts and how you can help!

Singer and Actress, Lena Horne, dies at 92

On May 9, Lena Horne, died of a heart ailment. She was broke racial barriers and forced Hollywood to expand its images of Black women. According the the Washington Post, "She was the first black woman to sign a meaningful long-term contract with a major studio, a contract that said she would never have to play a maid." Ms. Horne is proof that one person can make a difference. Check out a performance of her famous song "Stormy Weather" here. Enjoy!

The Case of Willie McGee

Ever heard of Willie McGee? Neither had I until the New York Times ran an article about his death. His story is sad and takes place in Laurel, Miss, during the days of Jim Crow. In November 1945, McGee was arrested for the rape of a white mother of three. Some rumors in town said McGee and the woman had been having an affair; others said McGee was playing cards at the time of the rape. However, he was convicted by an all-white jury and sentenced to death. His execution was scheduled for May 8, 1951.

What makes his case stand out from other Black men who were punished beyond the extent of their alleged crime? For one, he was killed in Mississippi's "traveling electric chair." For 15 years, this chair was moved from county to county to be used for people being put to death in the state. Even more disturbing is the fact that McGee's execution was broadcast on live radio, and in the background you can hear the cheers of a crowd of 1,000 who had assembled on the courthouse lawn. According to the NYT, there are "whoops, hollers, and cheers, and an excited cry of 'That's it!'"

At the time of his conviction, McGee's case gained national attention and people, both white and black, celebrities and students, protested his sentence. Today people continue to try to understand his life and his death. Last Friday, NPR ran a half-hour radio documentary on his life called "Willie McGee and the Traveling Electric Chair". There has also been a book published about his case, and this week Alex Heard’s “The Eyes of Willie McGee: A Tragedy of Race, Sex and Secrets in the Jim Crow South” (Harper) will be released.