I grew up in one of those sleepy little towns you often see depicted in movies and television. On the surface, it was similar to Mayberry, the town on the Andy Griffin Show.

The 1960s aired for 8 seasons, 249 episodes, and only two Black actors were seen. My progressive hometown has a black population way larger than Mayberry and our inclusive town's motto is “Old South Charm, New South Progress.

” That's cute and also a lie. My hometown in the 1960s was a Jim Crow cesspool with two distinctively different realities… one Colored and White Only.

In 1962, I gave my high school's valedictorian speech at eleven o'clock, and at three o'clock I was on an isolated country road with my Sunday school teacher's wife. While we were kissing, we heard a noise and investigated.

What we discovered changed our lives and the lives of many in Columbia, Tennessee. Blackmail, Adultery, 3 Murders, the KKK, and a Bombing that killed 10 happened as a result of what we discovered.

Because I had a white girl as a friend, they also tried to kill me three times. I've never told the whole story, I always made excuses and kept putting it off until tomorrow.

I don’t have many more tomorrows, so at last, this is it. My name is Elijah Brooks Hill, and this is the story of the life-changing event.

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