I always tell anyone who will listen to me to read Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King. That book sums up FL and FL policing in such a clear way that it will change you.
David Nolan is one of the pioneers in the development of a realistic history of St. Augustine. I had the pleasure of taking a trolley ride with him pointing out historic locations there. He was knowledgable without being overbearing. The story of Dr. King and Mr. Hough is a new one to me, so thanks for that. (Who got the Manucy papers?) As for St. Augustine being the tipping point of the civil rights struggle: Chronologically correct, especially if you know the narrow, often poorly lit streets the nighttime marchers repeatedly took and the strength of the area KKK.
What a great story. "A God sent man" carries a lot of gravitas. It begs the question what was it that Hough saw, felt, or somehow intuitively understood about King in that moment. I have to think, if I believed in it, destiny played a roll. Martin Luther King had a purpose in life that he hadn't yet fulfilled, and as fate would have it it wasn't yet his time.
Absolutely incredible story. I teach a course on Martin and Malcolm at a university near St. Augustine which includes a field trip to the city to see the sites related to the summer 1964 civil rights campaign there. I’m def gonna include this story now! And huge thanks to your father for his work; seems like a true organic intellectual and stand up guy.
This is amazing; thank you. I've always thought about how MLK'S last speech included his reflections on how he almost died after been stabbed by a mentally ill woman - the beautiful story of the girl who wrote him "I'm glad you didn't sneeze" after she heard reports the knife when so close to his heart he could have died if he had sneezed. People call this 'prophetic' given that he made this speech right before he was killed but it just speaks to how much the threat of violence was everywhere in his life.
Powerful story told at a critical moment. Thank you!
As others note the history of so many political struggles and certainly US labor history is filled with violence. To me the lesson of the moment is that those we respect most deeply were willing to organize often under continuous risk. As what layers of civility (mostly present for white men) get stripped away we are all facing hard personal choices about what it means to stand up. No one can make those choices for each of us but it’s healthy to reckon with the fact that those we often most deeply respect were facing these choices and found the courage to step up. Our “heros” never cared about being on posters or having a holiday named after them. Role models only matter if we try to model their courage and good work.
For those in leadership roles that means a new level of organizational courage and risk taking.
The future is uncertain but status quo thinking and behaving is a certain doom.
A reminder that monumental change for good or bad can trickle down from small acts. Small acts of protest, resistance and community aid can have unseen positive results. Something to keep in mind during these dark days.
On February 15, 1933, 17 days before his inauguration, Franklin D. Roosevelt displayed tremendous personal bravery in the face of an assassination attempt by Giuseppe Zangara, in Miami's Bayfront Park. Chicago mayor Anton Cermak was killed in the attempt, and four bystanders injured. Think how different the course of U.S. and world history might have been if Zangara had succeeded? John Nance Garner would have become the 32nd President. There has always been the treat of political violence in this country.
A totally engrossing story, a reminder of the contingencies that could have sent history cascading down a totally different path. You are a great prose writer, Mr Nolan, and am currently finding your other writing illuminating and powerful.
I wonder what made Hough classify MLK as "god-sent", and would he have been able to perceive that if his choice of weapon had a longer range?
This history definitely brings up more questions (about perception, fate, faith and modern technology, just to name a few) the more you think about it.
Absolutely astonishing story! Incredible!
I always tell anyone who will listen to me to read Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King. That book sums up FL and FL policing in such a clear way that it will change you.
Thanks for the recommendation, I need to check that out.
Now I have chills down my spine. Thank you for sharing this. It feels especially important given how much history gets paved and painted over in FL.
David Nolan is one of the pioneers in the development of a realistic history of St. Augustine. I had the pleasure of taking a trolley ride with him pointing out historic locations there. He was knowledgable without being overbearing. The story of Dr. King and Mr. Hough is a new one to me, so thanks for that. (Who got the Manucy papers?) As for St. Augustine being the tipping point of the civil rights struggle: Chronologically correct, especially if you know the narrow, often poorly lit streets the nighttime marchers repeatedly took and the strength of the area KKK.
Thank you. St. Augustinians all need to read and heed this, as do we all.
What a great story. "A God sent man" carries a lot of gravitas. It begs the question what was it that Hough saw, felt, or somehow intuitively understood about King in that moment. I have to think, if I believed in it, destiny played a roll. Martin Luther King had a purpose in life that he hadn't yet fulfilled, and as fate would have it it wasn't yet his time.
Absolutely incredible story. I teach a course on Martin and Malcolm at a university near St. Augustine which includes a field trip to the city to see the sites related to the summer 1964 civil rights campaign there. I’m def gonna include this story now! And huge thanks to your father for his work; seems like a true organic intellectual and stand up guy.
This is amazing; thank you. I've always thought about how MLK'S last speech included his reflections on how he almost died after been stabbed by a mentally ill woman - the beautiful story of the girl who wrote him "I'm glad you didn't sneeze" after she heard reports the knife when so close to his heart he could have died if he had sneezed. People call this 'prophetic' given that he made this speech right before he was killed but it just speaks to how much the threat of violence was everywhere in his life.
Powerful story told at a critical moment. Thank you!
As others note the history of so many political struggles and certainly US labor history is filled with violence. To me the lesson of the moment is that those we respect most deeply were willing to organize often under continuous risk. As what layers of civility (mostly present for white men) get stripped away we are all facing hard personal choices about what it means to stand up. No one can make those choices for each of us but it’s healthy to reckon with the fact that those we often most deeply respect were facing these choices and found the courage to step up. Our “heros” never cared about being on posters or having a holiday named after them. Role models only matter if we try to model their courage and good work.
For those in leadership roles that means a new level of organizational courage and risk taking.
The future is uncertain but status quo thinking and behaving is a certain doom.
Incredible story. Holy shit.
A reminder that monumental change for good or bad can trickle down from small acts. Small acts of protest, resistance and community aid can have unseen positive results. Something to keep in mind during these dark days.
Resist
Persist
Don't be complicit!
Great story!! And sounds like Hamilton comes from a great lineage.
On February 15, 1933, 17 days before his inauguration, Franklin D. Roosevelt displayed tremendous personal bravery in the face of an assassination attempt by Giuseppe Zangara, in Miami's Bayfront Park. Chicago mayor Anton Cermak was killed in the attempt, and four bystanders injured. Think how different the course of U.S. and world history might have been if Zangara had succeeded? John Nance Garner would have become the 32nd President. There has always been the treat of political violence in this country.
A totally engrossing story, a reminder of the contingencies that could have sent history cascading down a totally different path. You are a great prose writer, Mr Nolan, and am currently finding your other writing illuminating and powerful.
Just watched First Coast Connect
I wonder what made Hough classify MLK as "god-sent", and would he have been able to perceive that if his choice of weapon had a longer range?
This history definitely brings up more questions (about perception, fate, faith and modern technology, just to name a few) the more you think about it.