Detail of a burning home in Rosewood, Florida—1923. Click here to see full picture)
Rosewood Reborn [1923 and after]
A Radio Documentary with James Earl Jones
Survivor Minnie Lee Langley recalls Rosewood An attack on a white woman--allegedly by a black man--led to destruction of a whole community. 7 decades later, in the only known case of racial "reparations" for mass racial violence by a government in the U.S., Florida compensated survivors of that massacre. Rosewood's destruction and its groundbreaking "rebirth", in the actual voices of survivors and participants. Available as a one-hour program or as two half-hours; winner of the Edward R. Murrow and International Radio Gold World Medal and Grand Awards Click here for a brief summary of the Rosewood massacre. Click here for a discussion of Rosewood's history, the movie's story, and the documentary.
Rosewood's story has become part of a national debate. ROSEWOOD REBORN deals with vital current issues of: achieving justice in a society beset by racial and sexual tensions; racial reconciliation and reparations; domestic terrorism; media responsibility for covering inflammatory incidents; the role of government versus private/corporate responsibility for law, order, and social welfare; and conflicts between "multi-culturalism" and "core value" orthodox views of America's history and values.
Part I | 7 Days of Ruin: Buildup to a “race riot.” What does “race riot” mean? Only once has a U.S. government compensated victims for mass racial violence.  And although almost eight decades have passed, views differ for Blacks, Whites and various professions; and questions remain: What happened? And why is it important?         >> CLICK THE SOUND ICON TO LISTEN TO THE CLIPS IN REALMEDIA   1 Cry Rape:  The most popular rationale for White-on-Black vigilantism was to punish Blacks who raped white women.  How true was it in Rosewood (and elsewhere)? 2 A Good Place for Black People:  The law dictated that the races should live separately—and, in theory, equally. History tells us that Blacks suffered more under so-called “Jim Crow” segregation.  How was it in reality in the Rosewood area? 3 A Lynching:  A typical occurrence: How was what happened at Rosewood on January 1, 1923, like thousands of other incidents between 1880 and 1940? How was it different? 4 Messages: What was the Sam Carter’s lynching supposed to mean back then? What were people supposed to make of it—and how did they interpret it in reality?  (Introducing: the “Reborn” Ku Klux Klan).   5 Rosewood Besieged:  Conflicting views led to violent conflict.  A siege at Rosewood begins; but who’s in charge?   6 Alarums: --And Excursions: mobilizing for a “race riot” in Rosewood.  Fear, and fighting, spread.   7 Protections: Law, Order, and neighborliness.  What should Rosewood’s people have expected from their society, as their town was destroyed?  What did the area’s people get—and give?   8 The Accounting: The death count. How much do we know? And what are we missing?               Part II |  7 Decades to Rebirth:  The aftermath of violence;  Rosewood’s lessons.         >> CLICK THE SOUND ICON TO LISTEN TO THE CLIPS IN REALMEDIA   9 Departures: Rosewood’s people seek refuge. Who helped them?   10 Epitaphs: The newspapers (part 3) report on the violence; and the new lives of the refugees (part 1).  What did the Rosewood incident cost?   11 Beliefs: A montage, and more reports.  Why did it happen?   12 The Dispossessed:  Fifty years of trying to put Rosewood behind: How do we remember, and how do we forget, history?   13 Rosewood Revisited:  Rosewood is rediscovered—and forgotten again. The press (part 4), and the myths of Rosewood (part 2).   14 Duties: Law and Responsibility:  how the Rosewood claim was made.   15 Cases: What actually happened at Rosewood? Attempting a reconstruction; hearings and theories.   16 “A Political Forum” About reparations; debating the pros and cons. In 1994, Florida settled on an answer; but what does it mean for American history? 17 Memorials: How should we remember Rosewood?   Is the government’s answer good enough?  The media’s?  The witnesses?   18 Credits