Civil Wrongs

S6E3: Unjust pursuit

In this third and final episode of season 6, we talk to the family and others connected to the Memphis case that resulted in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that made national waves and shaped how police could use force against people fleeing from them. And that probably would have made a difference in the case against Phillip Hatley’s killer, too. We also dive into the most recent scathing report on the Memphis Police Department from the U.S. Department of Justice and how the city plans to move forward.  Mentioned in this episode:  * Tennessee v. Garner decision by U.S. Supreme Court [https://www.loc.gov/item/usrep471001/] (Library of Congress) * "Investigation of the Memphis Police Department and the City of Memphis [https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1379096/dl]" (U.S. Department of Justice, 2024) * "Fired Officers Worked In MPD’s ‘SCORPION’ Unit [https://www.psrmemphis.org/fired-officers-worked-in-mpds-scorpion-unit/]" by Marc Perrusquia, Institute for Public Service Reporting

S6E2: Silenced Bloodlines

This episode explores how Phillip Hatley’s family responded to his death — both at the time and through three generations, as more information has come to light. His grandsons say they have a newfound understanding of their father, who was five years old when Phillip Hatley was killed within earshot of his family. The next generation sees opportunities to affect change in their community as police brutality feels closer to home and their family heals. We also talk to Dr. Monnica Williams, a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at the University of Ottawa on how trauma, including racial trauma, can be carried through generations.  Mentioned in this episode:  * Dr. Monnica Williams X: @DrMonnica, Instagram: @drmonnica, LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/monnicawilliams, Treating Racial Trauma: A Certification in Clinical Anti-Racism [http://www.racialtraumahealing.com/certification.php] * Solomon Hatley Ministries on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SolomonHatleyMinistries/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@SolomonHatleyMinistries], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@pastorsolomonhatley] * Phillip Hatley Foundation [https://philliphatley.org/]

S6E1: The Killer Wore a Badge

In this episode, we bring you the story of Phillip Hatley, a 43-year-old Black husband and father who was shot in the back and killed by a drunk Memphis police officer in 1939.  His death led to a publicly contentious trial that ended with his killer going free. But his own grandsons knew only bits and pieces of what happened despite growing up in the same neighborhood. We journey with them back to where it all began and chat with the researcher who uncovered the story.  Mentioned in this episode: * Civil Rights & Restorative Justice [https://crrj.org/] Project * "From Boss Crump to King Willie: How Race Changed Memphis Politics" [https://www.burkesbooks.com/pages/books/227383/otis-l-sanford/from-boss-crump-to-king-willie-how-race-changed-memphis-politics] by Otis Sanford

S5E7: Revisiting connections between lynching and the death penalty as Tennessee resumes executions

Tennessee recently scheduled its first executions after a five-year hiatus. In this episode, we host a conversation between Steven Hale, author of “Death Row Welcomes You” based in Nashville, and Margaret Vandiver, author of “Lethal Punishment: Lynchings and Legal Executions in the South” to talk about the connections between lynching and the death penalty. Resources mentioned in this story: * “Death Row Welcomes You [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676743/death-row-welcomes-you-by-steven-hale/]” by Steven Hale * “Lethal Punishment [https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/lethal-punishment/9780813537290/]” by Margaret Vandiver * Death Penalty Information Center [https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/] * Tennessee Death Row Prisoners Ask Governor Lee to Halt Scheduled Executions While Courts Assess Constitutionality of New Lethal Injection Protocol [https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/tennessee-death-row-prisoners-ask-governor-lee-to-halt-scheduled-executions-while-courts-assess-constitutionality-of-new-lethal-injection-protocol] by Death Penalty Information Center

S5E6: Tom Lee’s relatives reflect on 100th anniversary of heroic water rescue

One hundred years ago on May 8, a Black man who could not swim saved 32 white people from drowning in the Mississippi River.  That heroic act got him a meeting with President Calvin Coolidge and a house in North Memphis. And one of Downtown’s most iconic parks honors his heroism. His name was Tom Lee. The park was not always welcoming to Black people — even his own descendants. But those striving to keep his story alive, from relatives to park leaders, hope Memphians will be inspired by his willingness to lend a helping hand. Resources mentioned in this story: * Tom Lee Park events [https://www.tomleepark.org/] * Memphis River Parks Partnership [https://www.memphisriverparks.org/]