By Madison Plaisance
Stanley Nelson, Louisiana Tech University graduate and investigative journalist, recently held a book talk in the Lincoln Parish Library in order to help promote its “Voices and Votes” exhibit.
Nelson, who was a 2011 Pulitzer Prize finalist, presented his book titled “Klan of Devils” and tells the events of the two first African American elected as officers in Washington Parish. While on patrol in 1965, they were targeted and shot by a white man over the color of their skin.
Nelson said he believes this story highlights these voting issues during the Civil Rights era. He discussed how people have gone through so much pain to earn this right and this story is just one of the many instances.
“Voting is such a big thing now and we need to talk about it,” Nelson said. “I think this is one of the most interesting and terrible cases surrounding voting that happened in 1959 and 1960.”
Even though this event took place over 50 years ago, it still affects society today. Kai Malone is a Bossier Parish Community College student who came and attended the talk.
“I’m an African American student and I was very curious as to what Nelson was going to present,” Malone said. “The story reminded me of how differently we are all treated due to the way we look, even today.”
The importance of history is one of the things that Nelson emphasized. Without proper understanding of history, people can not change, he said.
“We can learn a lot from our past but people don’t know about our past,” Nelson said, “When you go out and do the things I do then we start to really learn about what has happened in the past.”
Nelson was able to share this story because he said he searches for and interviews people who know the truth and allow their voices to be heard. He said he believes these stories are important when it comes to shaping the country into what it is today.
“There’s so many people that don’t understand why we are here and why we still have these different issues going on which is part of the problem,” Nelson said. “What happened all of these years ago… people don’t understand thoroughly until they listen to these voices and hear the full truth.”
