We talk with Dr. William Sturkey about his incredible study, "Hattiesburg: An American City in Black and White." His book explores how the history of Hattiesburg, MS, is critical to understanding America's history of racism and white supremacy. He also explains how conflict and reconciliation in Hattiesburg foreshadowed today's battle for racial justice. Hattiesburg was founded as Reconstruction is failing, and becomes a place where whites and Blacks collide in the push and pull over the right to live safely and prosperously. He describes why Hattiesburg never attained the same prominence of other small cities in the south, like Birmingham or Montgomery. Sadly, in plumbing the public archives of Hattiesburg, he discovers that African Americans were often erased from history. But his illustration of the family of Turner and Mamie Smith is unforgettable as they strive to be free of the strains of white supremacy.
Dr. Sturkey, a professor at the University of North Carolina, is available on social media at twitter.com/william_sturkey
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