Although the past half century has added fifty years to the fifteen plus I had lived as of April 24, 1959, the years have not erased the memories of the feelings I experienced when I learned of the lynching of Mack Charles Parker so close to where I was living at the time.

After first learning the real meaning of lynching a few years earlier with the murder of Emmett Louis Till in 1955, the Parker killing meant much to me. I even knew, and respected very much, a man incarcerated on false charges at the time who witnessed the abduction of Parker.

Those responsible for taking the life of Mack Charles Parker were not held accountable for their actions!