Isaac Woodard, African American Veteran, African American Soldier, African American History, Black History, Black Veteran, Civil Rights, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMN

The police beating that opened America’s eyes to Jim Crow’s brutality | The Conversation

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The police beating that opened America’s eyes to Jim Crow’s brutality | The Conversation

The bus driver made a stop en route. When Woodard asked if he had time to use the bathroom, the driver cursed loudly at him. Woodard would later admit in a deposition that he cursed back.

Neither man said anything until the bus stopped in Batesburg, South Carolina. There, the driver told the local police about Woodard’s impudence. Woodard was ordered off the bus. When Woodard tried to give his version of events, a police officer struck him with a night stick. Woodard was escorted to the jail, where, he later testified, he was repeatedly beaten by the police chief, Linwood Shull. Woodard said that Shull pounded him in his eyes with the end of the night stick until he blacked out (charges Shull would deny).

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Once Woodard regained consciousness, he couldn’t see.

Isaac Woodard, African American Veteran, African American Soldier, African American History, Black History, Black Veteran, Civil Rights, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMN

Isaac Woodard, African American Veteran, African American Soldier, African American History, Black History, Black Veteran, Civil Rights, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMN


NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE | WASHINGTON, DC

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become charter members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution. (Website).