Because I'm Black
The Story of Jesse Washington
by
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Living at a time in American history when public facilities were segregated and Black persons were denied equal rights under the law, seventeen-year-old Jesse Washington found himself accused of murdering Lucy Fryer, the wife of the owner of the farm where he worked as a sharecropper. Without the benefit of proper legal representation, he was rushed to trial under the presumption of guilt, with no meaningful opportunity to prepare a defense. Who was Jesse Washington and how did he come to suffer such a fate? Was he guilty of the crime of which he was accused? Many said no but few spoke in his defense except Samuel Palmer Brooks, the President of Baylor University, who quickly mounted a campaign to ensure that Jesse received a fair trial. But was that enough or were the efforts of Brooks in vain? Inspired by a true story, this biographical novel examines the evidence surrounding the 1916 trial of Jesse Washington and the circumstances under which he was accused.
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About the Book
Because I’m Black is a biographical novel inspired by the true story of a Black sharecropper who was tried for murder in Waco, Texas in 1916.
About the Author
D.W. Duke is an experienced California trial attorney who earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri. DW is active in civil and human rights and has worked extensively in the area of race relations. He holds a fifth-degree black belt conferred by World Taekwondo in Seoul, Korea, and is the author of eight books.
Taiwo Fagbohungbe, a native of the ancient city of Owo in Ondo State, Nigeria, is a distinguished writer with a passion for literature and international relations. A member of the Yoruba Tribe in Nigeria, Taiwo holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Studies from Adekunle Ajasin University and a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Politics and International Relations from Lead City University. Taiwo is currently completing a Master of Arts in English Studies at Arizona State University in the United States.
Taiwo’s research and studies focus on the Atlantic Slave Trade and the Black experience in American history. With roots in Nigeria and a global perspective shaped by his international studies, Taiwo brings a unique voice and rich cultural background to the world of literature.