I also wanted to portray the continuing legacy of white supremacy and terror that persists today. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Vietnamese fishermen clashed with the KKK in Galveston Bay. For years they faced harassment and were forced to defend their livelihood despite intimidation and violence from the Klan. This story informed my selection of the lynching of a non-Black person to further highlight the widespread fear and targeting of the KKK. But we cannot forget that of the almost five thousand lynchings in US history, over 70 percent were of African Americans. I urge you to see the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, located in Montgomery, Alabama. The memorial, which can also be viewed online, is dedicated to the memory of enslaved Black people, people terrorized by lynchings, and African Americans shunned by racial segregation.

Lynchings and capital punishment draw many comparisons as inhumane and unequal treatment largely applied on the basis of race. As of April 1, 2019, there were 2,637 inmates in prison who had been sentenced to death, across thirty-two states. African Americans make up about 13 percent of the US population but are 42 percent of the people on death row. It’s important to acknowledge that, nationally, 95 percent of prosecutors are white, according to a 2014 study by the Reflective Democracy Campaign. This lack of diverse representation leaves more room for implicit (and explicit) bias against defendants of color.

Evidence of disparity is most egregious in the state of Louisiana, where the odds of a death sentence are 97 percent higher in cases where the victim was white. Slavery was abolished, but the economics of the prison-industrial complex serves as an exception. Take, for example, the comments of a Louisiana sheriff, Steve Prator, who in 2017 railed against the move to release prisoners, citing their ability to provide free labor. I hope the reader will ponder the application of the death penalty as it relates to the legacy of slavery.

As I wrote this story, I was cautious not to add any details for voyeuristic purposes while also recognizing the trauma behind real-life incidents. To omit some aspects in this story would be to deny this reality. However, the Black American experience is not a story limited to pain; it is one that is joyous, remarkable, filled with possibility. I also celebrate the amazing voices and stories of other authors who are working to expand representation on stories we have yet to fully tell.

Knowledge (and representation) is power, and I truly believe movements are made by the next generation. The legacy of racism runs deep in our society, but we can stop this cycle if we all are involved. We can let the world know enough is enough. You can make a difference. Your voice matters. Demand justice and equality. I hope I leave my readers with empathy, awareness, and agency.

In solidarity and respect,

Black Lives Matter.

Kim Johnson

* prisonpolicy.org/​reports/​money.html

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Criminal Justice Organizations