WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? IT’S FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG, AND WAS RECENTLY USED IN A PBS DOCUMENTARY TO ILLUSTRATE “SLAVE TRACKERS.” BUT IF YOU STUDY THE PHOTO, THINGS ARE NOT QUITE RIGHT FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
INDEED, THE TRUE BACK STORY TO THIS PHOTO CRACKED THE CASE IN MY NEW BOOK, KILLING ALBERT BERCH, EXPLAINING WHY MY GRANDFATHER, AT AGE 30, DECIDED TO VIOLATE THE SUNDOWN LAW IN 1923 MARLOW (OK), AND PAID FOR IT WITH HIS LIFE AND THE LIFE OF HIS AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOTEL PORTER.
(SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PHOTO)
Although I’ve intended this blog to be dedicated to breast cancer controversies, it’s time for a time out. This web site has been in operation since April 2015, doubling readership each year, and I haven’t missed a month of blogging yet — until now. As you might know, I juggle two lives — physician and author. Every now and then, the latter takes over, as is happening now with the November 7 release of my new book, Killing Albert Berch.
The book has its own web site, if you’re interested: www.KillingAlbertBerch.com. And for those who live in the area, here’s the current line-up for book signings:
November 18, 2017 — 7:30 to 9:00pm — Decopolis — Tulsa, OK
November 19, 2017 — 2:00 to 4:00pm — Barnes & Noble (@Mem & May) — OKC
November 28, 2017 — 6:30 to 8:00pm — Full Circle Book Store — OKC
November 30, 2017 — 6:00 to 7:30pm — Best of Books — Edmond, OK
December 6, 2017 — 5:00 to 7:00pm — The Twig Book Shop — San Antonio, TX
AND NOW, BACK TO THE PHOTO ABOVE. FIRST OF ALL, WOULD YOU EXPECT AN ESCAPED SLAVE TO BE DRESSED IN HER SUNDAY BEST? AND WHILE IT LOOKS LIKE THE MAN ON THE LEFT IS AIMING HIS GUN AT THE POOR GIRL’S HEAD, TAKE A LOOK AT THE ANGLE OF THE OTHER MAN’S GUN. THIS IS AN 1862 STUDIO PORTRAIT AND THE SUBJECTS HAVE BEEN “ARRANGED” IN LIKE POSE BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER.
SLAVE TRACKERS? NO. THESE TWO MEN HAVE JUST COMPLETED A DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENT TO ESCORT THE GIRL TO SAFETY. THE MAN ON THE LEFT IS MY GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER, JESSE BERCH, GRANDFATHER TO THE SUBJECT OF MY BOOK, ALBERT WELDON BERCH, MURDERED BY A MOB THE SAME YEAR THAT KKK MEMBERSHIP PEAKED — 1923.
Early Breast Cancer 