Buried Truths

Sallie Nixon was small in stature, but large in spirit, strength and willpower. In 1948, she watched as two white men killed her husband Isaiah Nixon because he dared to vote. She lived on, overcame obstacles and inspired generations of family members, including children and grandchildren who affectionately call her Sallie Mama. In July 2020, she passed away at the age of 96. Host Hank Klibanoff remembers Sallie Nixon in this special episode, and is joined by her daughter Dorothy Nixon Williams and Dorothy's children, Joi and Tony Williams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1936, a black man named Thomas Finch was shot and killed by an Atlanta police officer who later became leader of the Ku Klux Klan. Very little was known publicly about Finch’s death until his name appeared at a new memorial to the victims of lynching. In this special episode of Buried Truths, Hank Klibanoff sits down with Stephannie Stokes, the reporter who uncovered Thomas Finch's story, for an in-depth look at what happened, and how it's connected to the stories on Buried Truths. Read more and see images here. Stephannie Stokes reported and produced the story on Thomas Finch. It was first released on Reveal, a podcast from the Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX. The story was edited by David Lewis, investigations editor at WNYC, and Reveal’s Michael Montgomery. It was produced in collaboration with APM Reports, the investigative and documentary unit of American Public Media, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Special thanks to Susanna Capelouto and Chris Worthingon. David Barasoain is the senior producer of Buried Truths. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Howard Moore, Jr. and Newton Collier join Hank Klibanoff for a live show at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.

The season two live show continues with a panel discussion on truth, policing, race relations and our individual roles, followed by a pointed Q&A with the audience.

Former president Jimmy Carter visits Hank’s class at Emory University.

Hank talks to 1A about making Buried Truths.

Why tell A.C.’s story? Hank looks at the many ways in which 1962 resonates today and he heads to Macon with his students to visit A.C.’s gravesite.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So what happens after the storm? Hank discusses the after effects of the A.C. Hall verdict, grand jury proceedings and an FBI investigation. Will they follow the lead of the coroner’s jury? And what became of Eloise Franklin? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The police take the stand. Years later, one of their sons speaks out. The jury delivers its decision. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How accurate is eyewitness identification? Donald Hollowell, one of the civil rights attorneys representing A.C. Hall's family, questions what Doris Hopper actually saw. Hank looks at the science...and he speaks to Doris. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's the wrong gun. As Barnett Hopper takes the stand, saying the gun that police found isn’t his after all, we examine the kind of training that officers like Brown and Durden received. Hank discusses police culture and training with a former police officer, now law professor. His focus – policing the police. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sixteen year old Eloise Franklin takes the stand in front of five white jurors, three attorneys and a courtroom full of spectators. The police officers' defense attorney Denmark Groover, a staunch segregationist who tried to stop clocks and change flags, asks her more than 230 questions. Years later, Eloise recalls the experience. The inquest takes a break. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A rookie black lawyer, who's never examined a witness, who doesn't even know what a coroner's inquest is, gets his chance in a Macon, Georgia, courtroom against a legendary segregationist lawyer and politician. Can this possibly go well? Listen to the actual testimony -- and that rookie's reflections, in that same courtroom, 56 years later.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why did A.C. run?

A night stroll, a missing gun and two rookie cops.