In order to comprehend how such a heinous and senseless crime went unpunishable, Timothy B. Tyson, the author of Blood Done Sign My Name, sought knowledge on the murder of Henry Marrow. Through extensive research, Tyson is able to illustrate and grasp the impact of white supremacy on the death of Henry Marrow and as a society, all of humankind must reflect upon their past transgressions to avoid racial injustice in the future.
From an early age, Tyson understood that Robert Teel and the other Klansmen “belonged to the evil order that...was a force of pure hatred in this world” (Tyson, 51). The Klan was a racially intolerant colt that imposed its will through scare tactics and was the epitome of racism. In an effort to ingrain in Timothy the evils of white supremacy, his father took him to a Klan rally and though he was young, Timothy could comprehend the wickedness of the Klan. In the 1970s, “virtually every African American in the country believed that white men could butcher a black man in public and not even face arrest and prosecution, let alone conviction....in fact, the police had not jailed the Teels immediately; the arrest warrant showed a time of 8:30 the morning after the murder” (Tyson, 129). After the murder of Henry Marrow, it becomes evident to the reader that whites held legal privileges that were not available to their African American even though the law deemed whites and blacks as equals. Had the roles been reversed, the arrest would have taken place sooner and the court ruling would have ensured a conviction of Henry Marrow. Despite what had truly transpired, “one thing became crystal clear to the blacks who attended the preliminary hearing: there were powerful white people who did not want to see Robert and Larry Teel go to jail” (Tyson, 140). In the preliminary hearing, a handful of wealthy whites testified on behalf of the Teels and offered to post bond. It is evident through this court case that “white people …show more content…
Orange Street was the black school in Oxford that the two black children in Tyson’s school would have attended had the Supreme Court not overturned Plessy v. Fergusson. Upon reflection of his past, Tyson feels remorse for “those two brave and unfortunate black children” who “must have felt as” if they were at “a school where they were not wanted” (Tyson, 41). Tyson believes that “our failure to confront the historical truth about how African Americans finally won their freedom presents a major obstacle to genuine racial reconciliation” (Tyson 318). In order to promote social progress and avoid racial injustice, Tyson suggests that everybody must confront his or her transgressions. Although Marrow’s death was senseless and is shameful for the people of Oxford to confront, it is essential to look back at history so that racial injustice is indeed an issue of the past. “In Christ There Is No East or West...Join hands, the, brother of the faith / Whate’er your race may be. / Who serves my Father as a son / Is surely kin to me” (Tyson 66). This hymn illustrates that in the eyes of the lord, all are equal and as Christians, we should treat each other in such a manner. One must reflect upon the past so that one day all of humankind may live in a nation where individuals will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
Through
From an early age, Tyson understood that Robert Teel and the other Klansmen “belonged to the evil order that...was a force of pure hatred in this world” (Tyson, 51). The Klan was a racially intolerant colt that imposed its will through scare tactics and was the epitome of racism. In an effort to ingrain in Timothy the evils of white supremacy, his father took him to a Klan rally and though he was young, Timothy could comprehend the wickedness of the Klan. In the 1970s, “virtually every African American in the country believed that white men could butcher a black man in public and not even face arrest and prosecution, let alone conviction....in fact, the police had not jailed the Teels immediately; the arrest warrant showed a time of 8:30 the morning after the murder” (Tyson, 129). After the murder of Henry Marrow, it becomes evident to the reader that whites held legal privileges that were not available to their African American even though the law deemed whites and blacks as equals. Had the roles been reversed, the arrest would have taken place sooner and the court ruling would have ensured a conviction of Henry Marrow. Despite what had truly transpired, “one thing became crystal clear to the blacks who attended the preliminary hearing: there were powerful white people who did not want to see Robert and Larry Teel go to jail” (Tyson, 140). In the preliminary hearing, a handful of wealthy whites testified on behalf of the Teels and offered to post bond. It is evident through this court case that “white people …show more content…
Orange Street was the black school in Oxford that the two black children in Tyson’s school would have attended had the Supreme Court not overturned Plessy v. Fergusson. Upon reflection of his past, Tyson feels remorse for “those two brave and unfortunate black children” who “must have felt as” if they were at “a school where they were not wanted” (Tyson, 41). Tyson believes that “our failure to confront the historical truth about how African Americans finally won their freedom presents a major obstacle to genuine racial reconciliation” (Tyson 318). In order to promote social progress and avoid racial injustice, Tyson suggests that everybody must confront his or her transgressions. Although Marrow’s death was senseless and is shameful for the people of Oxford to confront, it is essential to look back at history so that racial injustice is indeed an issue of the past. “In Christ There Is No East or West...Join hands, the, brother of the faith / Whate’er your race may be. / Who serves my Father as a son / Is surely kin to me” (Tyson 66). This hymn illustrates that in the eyes of the lord, all are equal and as Christians, we should treat each other in such a manner. One must reflect upon the past so that one day all of humankind may live in a nation where individuals will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
Through