Hometown Author Shares Remembrances

In early December of 2011, Mac Gordon met with teachers in the McComb School District to talk about his new book Hometown: A Remembrance. How a small town newspaper and ordinary citizens joined together in the 1960’s to end racial violence in McComb, Mississippi (published by the Magnolia Gazette).

As described in a review of the book in the Enterprise Journal, “The book gives a sweeping account of McComb from its railroad origins through the days of 1950s hamburger joints and watering holes and into the turbulent 1960s. It particularly focuses on the late Enterprise Journal publisher Oliver Emmerich, the late civil rights leader C.C. Bryant, and the Red Heffner family, which was forced to leave McComb after showing support for civil rights workers. The crux of the book is the statement of principles signed by 650 white citizens opposing civil rights violence.”

Gordon also visited the high school Local Culture course. He talked about growing up in McComb, Miss. and what it was like at McComb High School. He shared a few stories from his book and answered students’ eager questions. He held a drawing for a signed copy of the book, which was won by N’Dia Thomas.