While most think of lynchings as something from another era, lynchings while not as numerous went well into the 20th century. The last recorded lynching was on the 21st of March, 1981. The young man’s name was Michael Donald, and he was lynched at the age of 19. Even though we no longer have lynchings occurring in our country currently, nooses have continued to be used as a sign of terror and intimidation in contemporary America. Should we just forget this history as so many have suggested? Freestyle with me…
Published by Drew G. I. Hart, PhD
Rev. Dr. Drew G. I. Hart is an associate professor of theology at Messiah University and has 10 years of pastoral experience prior to teaching. He currently directs Messiah University's "Thriving Together: Congregations for Racial Justice" program and co-hosts Inverse Podcast with Jarrod McKenna, an award-winning peace activist from Australia. Hart is the author of Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism (2016) and Who Will Be A Witness?: Igniting Activism for God's Justice, Love, and Deliverance (2020). And he is also a co-editor and contributor to the recently published book entitled Reparations and the Theological Disciplines: Prophetic Voices for Remembrance, Reckoning, and Repair (Nov. 2023). Hart received bcmPEACE’s 2017 Peacemaker Award, the 2019 W.E.B. Du Bois Award in Harrisburg, PA, and most recently in December 2023 Life Esteem Ministries recognized him in Harrisburg with the Harambee Award for the Nguzo Saba Principle of Umoja—Unity for his faith-based activism and public scholarship in the community. Drew and his family live in Harrisburg, PA.
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Drew G. I. Hart 
Drew,
It hurts so much to see these pictures. It’s like looking at holocaust pictures–you know it happened, but it couldn’t really happen, could it?
I thank God we are no longer there and commit myself to making the world a better place for every single person on the planet by promoting love and peace. I can’t do much, but I will do what I can do.
I admire your work very much, Drew. Thank you for all that you do.
Drew, Have you seen the map of hate groups in the US put out by the So. Poverty Law Center, which teaches tolerance and uses the law to stop racists?
I just added myself to my state as a voice against racism.
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp
I actually have seen it… in fact the first time was when I was there at the SPLC. It was also from them that I originally learned about Michael Donald’s story. They do lots of good work… but it is scary to see how many hate groups are out there and that they have been increasing at exponential rates in the last few years. It’s as though we are reverting back to the 50’s.
Hi Drew,
Do you have a contact with SPLC? Do they have any materials they could send that would help us write about the hate groups?
Pam
They actually put out magazines, I believe they are monthly. As well if you are an educator, teacher, or leader of children or youth then you can get free resources (videos and posters that teach on civil rights and tolerance) from the SPLC. You should be able to subscribe or request all of those materials from their website http://www.splcenter.org.
Actually… here is the direct link http://www.tolerance.org/?source=redirect&url=teachingtolerance
Thanks, Drew. I sent an email off requesting info.
Pam
My father was a patrolman when Michael Donald was murdered. Until the day he died, my father never spoke much of what happened that day, except to say that Tiger Knowles and the Hayes boys got exactly what was coming to them.
This is very, very disturbing to not see, but imagine what this young man had to experience! The youth today needs to appreciate and respect the life they are living toay. If this man and others who can come back and tell there story maybe people will stop the evil that is happening!! Mr. Donald is FREE and GOD will take care of the evil doers on judgment day!
It vex my spirit to even hear of hate crime such as this. .but one thing I noticed about kkk is they never did anything by themselves and their faces was always covered ..to me thats cowardly and that’s no way to say your a man …that was back then try it now and see what happens
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