The story of how the 1942 lynching of Cleo Wright – and the subsequent failure of the first federal attempt to prosecute a lynching – continues to haunt the small city of Sikeston, Missouri. Then, in 2020, the community is faced with the police killing of a young Black father. The film “Silence in Sikeston” explores the necessary questions about history, trauma, silence and resilience over 78 years.
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Double V and Black Americans’ Fight for Equality
A civil rights initiative during World War II known as the Double V campaign advocated for dual victories: over fascism abroad, and racial injustice in the United States. The campaign, launched by an influential Black newspaper, called out discrimination and segregation faced by Black workers and military personnel.
Ida B. Wells and the Long Crusade to Outlaw Lynching
Born into slavery, Ida B. Wells later became an educator, an investigative journalist and an early civil rights activist, shedding light on the plight of Black Americans across the South. After the brutal deaths of three friends who were victims of lynching, Wells began chronicling mob violence, publishing her findings in newspaper articles and pamphlets.
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Silence in Sikeston: The Podcast, hosted by KFF Health News correspondent Cara Anthony, goes deeper into the story of Sikeston to share how racism, silence and trauma affect public health. Episodes 1-4, plus a bonus Meet the Makers episode, coming soon.
Also listen on Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | iHeart
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No One Wants To Talk About Racial Trauma. Why My Family Broke Our Silence.
A personal essay by Cara Anthony, the award-winning KFF Health News correspondent, on how reporting on the lynching of Cleo Wright led her to discover her own family’s past.
