#111 - Jerry Mitchell: Race Against Time

Jerry Mitchell is an investigative reporter for Mississippi Today and author of "Race Against Time." https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Race-Against-Time/Jerry-Mitchell/9781451645149

Jerry Mitchell's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jmitchellnews/

A longtime journalist for The Clarion Ledger, Mitchell was instrumental in reopening multiple murder cases that occurred throughout the civil rights era in Mississippi.

Episode Time Stamps
(0:00) Intro
(2:00) Jerry details audio book recording process
(4:20) Is Texas part of the South?
(6:00) Racial dynamics in Texas vs Mississippi
(9:00) Why the history of racial polarization in Mississippi?
(10:00) Where did the influence of the Klan originate?
(14:00) The resurgence of the Klan in early 20th century
(16:30) The Klan was not strictly a southern organization
(18:40) Klan's self-described mission was to "save Democracy"
(20:20) Did white people in Mississippi agree with white supremacy?
(22:00) Propaganda fueled the flames of the Klan's fire
(24:00) Jerry's meeting with Medgar Evers' killer
(28:00) Ku Klux Klan had immense political power in Mississippi
(30:30) How did the Klan recruit police officers to join?
(32:00) Why didn't people stand up to the Klan in Mississippi?
(34:00) Did civil rights workers recognize the danger of the Klan?
(37:00) Supermajority state government is not good
(39:00) Are we re-segregating ourselves in Mississippi?
(41:30) Majority black schools perform very poorly
(44:00) Education is important for the health of society
(47:00) We must hold our elected officials accountable
(48:30) How do desolate areas attract quality educators?
(50:00) Symptoms of corruption in Mississippi law enforcement
(52:00) Rankin County law enforcement abuse and harassment
(57:30) It's easy to play the "race card"
(58:00) We don't respect teachers or law enforcement
(1:00:20) Should all drugs be legalized?
(1:01:40) Lee details being caught with marijuana
(1:03:30) Government is largely inefficient
(1:05:30) Should people be incarcerated for marijuana?
(1:09:40) Will the voter initiative process be restored?
(1:12:25) Should we rethink how we handle the mentally ill?
(1:15:00) How can Jackson, MS be improved?
(1:17:00) One Lake Project
(1:19:20) Jackson, Mississippi needs new leadership
(1:20:50) Is the Ku Klux Klan still active in Mississippi?
(1:22:20) White supremacy: Then vs Now
(1:25:00) Communism vs Facsism
(1:28:00) Influx of German scientists in America
(1:30:00) Mississippi Burning Case
(1:33:00) Why was Edgar Ray Killen the only person prosecuted?
(1:36:30) How were the bodies discovered?
(1:39:00) Details of Mississippi Burning murder scene
(1:43:50) Did Klansmen have a change of heart upon being pressured?
(1:46:00) Was Sam Bowers charismatic?
(1:48:00) Was Divine intervention at play to reopen the cases?
(1:50:00) The Klan appeared to be amateur criminals

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