The Daily Stoic Edward Ball, Southern Writer, on the Ghosts of Our Collective Past
Oct 31, 2020
Edward Ball, a writer who explores history and race, dives deep into his family's connection to white supremacy in his book, "Life of a Klansman." The conversation unveils the ongoing consequences of racism from the past, examining responsibility versus accountability. Ball sheds light on the Mechanics Institute Massacre and its implications for Black progress post-Civil War. The discussion emphasizes confronting uncomfortable truths about historical violence and the cyclical nature of social change, making a compelling case for understanding our collective past.
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Recent History
- Recent history is closer than we think, easily within oral tradition's reach.
- Edward Ball's mother knew the son of the Klansman he wrote about, connecting present and past.
Family Connection
- Edward Ball's mother had direct familial connections to the Klansman through her grandfather.
- This personal link underscores the proximity of historical figures and events.
Numbness to Violence
- The prevalence of death and suffering may have numbed people to violence, facilitating racist acts.
- This psychological hardening is not unique to the past; it persists in modern white supremacy.
