Blood Done Sign My Name
Encyclopedia
Blood Done Sign My Name is an autobiographical work of history written by Timothy B. Tyson while he was a professor of Afro-American studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. The book, published in 2004 and based in part on an M.A. thesis Tyson wrote in 1990 while attending Nebraska University, deals with the 1970 murder of Henry Marrow
, a black man.
Since 2004, the book has sold 140,000 copies and earned awards including the University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award
in Religion. UNC-CH selected the book for its 2005 summer reading program.
, a black man. This case helped galvanize the African-American civil rights movement in Oxford, North Carolina
, where the book takes place, and across the eastern North Carolina black belt. It helped establish local civil rights activist Ben Chavis
's leadership in the black civil rights movement, which eventually led to his becoming the executive director of the NAACP and later an organizer of the Million Man March
. This episode radicalized the African American freedom struggle in North Carolina, leading up to the turbulence of the Wilmington Ten cases, which grew out of racial conflict in the port city and the trial of Ben Chavis and nine others on charges stemming from the burning of a grocery store.
Tyson, whose father was the minister of the First United Methodist Church-Oxford, a prominent local church, explores not only the white supremacy
of the South's racial caste system but his own and his family's white supremacy. He interweaves a narrative of the story and its effects on him with discussion of the racial history of the United States, focusing on the persistence of discrimination despite federal law and on the violent realities of that history on both sides of the color line. Tyson challenges the popular memory of the movement as a nonviolent call on America's conscience led by Martin Luther King. The vision of the movement in these pages is local as well as national and international, violent as well as nonviolent, and far more complicated and human than the myth of "pure good versus bare-fanged evil in the streets of Birmingham," as he puts it.
Oxford writer Thad Stem, Jr.
is a key figure in the book.
, Visiting Professor of American Christianity and Southern Culture at Duke Divinity School, and also teaches in the American Studies Department at Guilford University.
, which was filmed in the cities of Shelby
, Statesville
, Monroe
and Gastonia, NC
was released in the United States on February 19, 2010. The film starred Ricky Schroder, Omar Benson Miller
, and Michael Rooker
.
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. The book, published in 2004 and based in part on an M.A. thesis Tyson wrote in 1990 while attending Nebraska University, deals with the 1970 murder of Henry Marrow
Henry Marrow
Henry Dortress Marrow, Junior , called Dickie by his friends and family, was 23 when he was murdered in Oxford, North Carolina on May 11, 1970, the victim of a violent hate crime. Henry Marrow's three killers were all found not guilty...
, a black man.
Since 2004, the book has sold 140,000 copies and earned awards including the University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award
Grawemeyer Award
The Grawemeyer Awards are five awards given annually by the University of Louisville in the state of Kentucky, United States. The prizes are presented to individuals in the fields of education, ideas improving world order, music composition, religion, and psychology...
in Religion. UNC-CH selected the book for its 2005 summer reading program.
Story
The book deals with the 1970 murder of Henry MarrowHenry Marrow
Henry Dortress Marrow, Junior , called Dickie by his friends and family, was 23 when he was murdered in Oxford, North Carolina on May 11, 1970, the victim of a violent hate crime. Henry Marrow's three killers were all found not guilty...
, a black man. This case helped galvanize the African-American civil rights movement in Oxford, North Carolina
Oxford, North Carolina
Oxford is a city in Granville County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,461 at the 2010 census It is the county seat of Granville County.-History:...
, where the book takes place, and across the eastern North Carolina black belt. It helped establish local civil rights activist Ben Chavis
Benjamin Chavis Muhammad
Benjamin Chavis is an African American civil rights leader. Dr. Chavis was born Benjamin Franklin Chavis, Jr. on January 22, 1948 in Oxford, North Carolina. In his youth, Dr. Chavis was an assistant to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who inspired him to work in the civil rights movement. Dr...
's leadership in the black civil rights movement, which eventually led to his becoming the executive director of the NAACP and later an organizer of the Million Man March
Million Man March
The Million Man March was a gathering of social activists, en masse, held on and around the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on October 16, 1995...
. This episode radicalized the African American freedom struggle in North Carolina, leading up to the turbulence of the Wilmington Ten cases, which grew out of racial conflict in the port city and the trial of Ben Chavis and nine others on charges stemming from the burning of a grocery store.
Tyson, whose father was the minister of the First United Methodist Church-Oxford, a prominent local church, explores not only the white supremacy
White supremacy
White supremacy is the belief, and promotion of the belief, that white people are superior to people of other racial backgrounds. The term is sometimes used specifically to describe a political ideology that advocates the social and political dominance by whites.White supremacy, as with racial...
of the South's racial caste system but his own and his family's white supremacy. He interweaves a narrative of the story and its effects on him with discussion of the racial history of the United States, focusing on the persistence of discrimination despite federal law and on the violent realities of that history on both sides of the color line. Tyson challenges the popular memory of the movement as a nonviolent call on America's conscience led by Martin Luther King. The vision of the movement in these pages is local as well as national and international, violent as well as nonviolent, and far more complicated and human than the myth of "pure good versus bare-fanged evil in the streets of Birmingham," as he puts it.
Oxford writer Thad Stem, Jr.
Thad Stem, Jr.
Thaddeus Stem, Jr. of Oxford, North Carolina was a poet, author and newspaper columnist. His work frequently appeared in the Raleigh News & Observer and The Pilot . He also wrote or co-wrote 16 books...
is a key figure in the book.
The author
Tyson has since taken a position as Senior Scholar at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke UniversityDuke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, Visiting Professor of American Christianity and Southern Culture at Duke Divinity School, and also teaches in the American Studies Department at Guilford University.
Film adaptation
A movie adaptation of the book by Tyson and writer Jeb StuartJeb Stuart (writer)
Jeb Stuart is an American film director, film producer and screenwriter. Among his scripts are Die Hard , The Fugitive , and an early draft of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, entitled Indiana Jones and the Saucer Men from Mars, in 1995.-Filmography:*Die Hard *Next of Kin Jeb...
, which was filmed in the cities of Shelby
Shelby, North Carolina
Shelby is a city in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 19,477 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cleveland County.-Geography:Shelby is located at ....
, Statesville
Statesville, North Carolina
Statesville is a city located in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States and was named an All-America City in 1997 and 2009. The population was 24,633 at the 2010 census...
, Monroe
Monroe, North Carolina
Monroe is a city in Union County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 36,397 as of the 2010 census. It is the seat of government of Union County and is also part of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC Metropolitan area.-Geography:...
and Gastonia, NC
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
was released in the United States on February 19, 2010. The film starred Ricky Schroder, Omar Benson Miller
Omar Benson Miller
Omar Benson Miller is an American actor.-Early life:Miller was raised in Long Beach and Anaheim, California, and graduated from San Jose State University.-Career:...
, and Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker is an American actor.-Early life:Rooker, who has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen, after his parents divorced.-Movie career:He made his...
.