"This groundbreaking work reads like a murder mystery, only in this case what has been killed is our American integrity and the right of an individual to a fair trial. Evans has finally addressed the pervasive silence that distorts, fragments, and threatens to bury the history of so many southern places and people."--Rebecca Mark, Tulane University The Silencing of Ruby McCollum refutes the carefully constructed public memory of one of the most famous--and under-examined--biracial murders in American history. On August 3, 1952, African American housewife Ruby McCollum drove to the office of Dr. C. LeRoy Adams, beloved white physician in the segregated small town of Live Oak, Florida. With her two young children in tow, McCollum calmly gunned down the doctor during (according to public sentiment) "an argument over a medical bill." Soon, a very different motive emerged, with McCollum alleging horrific mental and physical abuse at Adams's hand. In reaction to these allegations and an increasingly intrusive media presence, the town quickly cobbled together what would become the public facade of Adams's murder--a more "acceptable" motive for McCollum's actions. To ensure this would become the official version of events, McCollum's trial prosecutors voiced multiple objections during her testimony to limit what she was allowed to say. Employing multiple methodologies to achieve her voice--historical research, feminist theory, African American literary criticism, African American history, and investigative journalism--Evans analyzes the texts surrounding the affair to suggest that an imposed code of silence demands not only the construction of an official story but also the transformation of a community's citizens into agents who will reproduce and perpetuate this version of events, improbable and unlikely though they may be. Tammy Evans is an adjunct professor of composition at the University of Miami's Bradenton campus.

Premiering on November 18 in the 2014 season of the Discovery Channel's A Crime to Remember, this murder stole the headlines of every newspaper in 1952. It is the sordid tale of an African-American wife who murdered her white lover on a hot August Sunday in 1952, and the ensuring trial that shook the foundations of the Segregationist South. The murder was a crime of passion, as Ruby McCollum burst through the "colored" entrance of Dr. Adams' office and shot him 4 times during a heated argument, shortly after he was elected to the Florida State Senate. Rumors spread that the murder was over a doctor bill, yet the McCollums were wealthy operators of the illegal gambling operation known as "bolita," and were always known for paying their bills. It was only later that "outsiders" were to discover the true motive for the murder, and rip through the thin veneer of Southern civility to expose the sordid world of liquor, gambling, drugs, sex and illicit dealings between "whites" and "coloreds" that lay beneath the surface. The ensuing high profile trial in Live Oak, Florida hit the headlines of all the major newspapers of the time, and marked the first time that a woman of color was allowed to take the stand and witness against a white man who forced her to have his children. Now readers can review the full testimony allowed Ruby McCollum during her trial. Zora Hurston covered the trial for the Pittsburgh Courier, the newspaper with the largest circulation to African-Americans at that time. Largely lost to history, this landmark trial was given new life when Dr. C. Arthur Ellis, Jr., who knew all of the characters in the story, published the first edition of this work in print, proving to the world that McCollum actually testified during her trial while all other sources deny that she did (Full transcript in State of Florida vs. Ruby McCollum, Defendant, available on Amazon). Now, readers can enjoy the beauty of this color illustrated Kindle Fire edition, and download it free through the Kindle Matchbook program if they have previously purchased the print edition on Amazon. Drawing on Hurston's newspaper coverage of the trial and interviews with town residents, Ellis-a Live Oak resident himself-recounts the sensational trial. He alternates between the first-person voice of Hurston herself and a narrative of the backstory of the love affair and fortunes made in a small town on illegal gambling and drugs. --Vanessa Bush Booklist (American Library Association)

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This volume addresses a theme long essential to feminist and liberationist theology: in what can we hope, and what role should hope play in our actions and our lives? It provides a constructive set of proposals and fills a crucial gap in theological resources as well-known contributors address the theme from their different contexts and fields.

Traces the career of the influential African-American writer, citing the historical backdrop of her life and work while considering her relationships with and influences on top literary, intellectual, and artistic figures.

This full color edition of the Hall of Mirrors is the most thoroughly researched work on the Ruby McCollum story published since the work of William B. Huie. Written by the author who first published the annotated transcript of the murder trial, this work explores recent attempts to revise Ruby McCollum's story to suit the motives of various authors, academics and film producers. Hall of Mirrors avoids the confirmation and presentist biases found in other works and presents this captivating story in its proper historical context. It is a "must read" for anyone seriously interested in the facts of the case, but is guaranteed to offend those who steadfastly deny Ruby McCollum’s innocence in the face of overwhelming facts.

This hard hitting and intense drama, a sensation Off Broadway, is based on a murder that happened in a small town in Florida in 1952. Ruby McCollum, a black woman, is accused of killing a socially prominent white doctor. Famed writer Zora Neale Hurston is covering her trial for the national black press. With help from another famous reporter, Zora uncovers an explosive collision of race, sex and class that is key to understanding the truth about the murder.

The weekly source of African American political and entertainment news.