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90th Anniversary of Fort Myers Lynching

From Photo Collection of James Allen

May 25 and 26 will mark the 90th anniversary of the lynching of two black youth in Fort Myers.We’ll take a step back into our region’s history for a closer examination of what’s known about the lynching and its impacts along with a broader look at the phenomenon of lynching in the history of the American South. We’ll also hear from a self-described ‘picker’ who’s collected more than 100 photographs and postcards documenting lynchings throughout the U.S. carried out between the late 1800s up through the 1950s. The disturbing photos are collected in the book “Without Sanctuary.”  Some descriptions in this conversation may be upsetting or disturbing to some listeners.

Guests:

Jonathan Harrison, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Florida Gulf Coast University and Hodges University

James Allen, Collector of Lynching Photographs in Without Sanctuary

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