Ed Johnson's Grave, Chattanooga, Tennessee

A morning walk today in the old Pleasant Garden Cemetery. As you may know the old now abandoned burial ground once served as Chattanooga's primary site for African-American interments.

On a grave near the back of the cemetery I saw what at first appeared to be fresh flowers. The flowers turned out to be silk and not as fresh as first appeared.

The silk flowers were over Ed Johnson's grave. Johnson was the last man lynched in Chattanooga. He was killed on the Walnut Street Bridge in 1906, accused of raping a young white woman.

The consequences of Johnson's death have echoed down the years since 1906. His trial, the appeal, and his subsequent lynching have prompted a number of articles, at least one book, and a history book chapter I wrote several years ago.

Today, as I stood beside the grave and those fading silk flowers, I thought, of course, about changing attitudes, changing values, human nature. I thought too, and still wonder about the elements that divide our heterogeneous society here in the United States.

Our society has changed a great deal since 1906, but vestiges of the 1906 culture remain. I hope that change continues. I hope too, that although we of the 21st century abhor and condemn some of those 1906 attitudes and values, we can take hope that the years and our efforts continue to generate positive and hopeful change.

If you are out walking, take a turn down Rowe Road off Ridgeside. Stroll back to the old cemetery that neighbor David Young has devoted so much time and energy to maintain. Walk back to one of the last groupings of graves, and there you may find Ed Johnson's marker. It's the one under the fading white silk tulips. They are a poignant memorial to an illiterate black man sacrificed on the altars or bigotry and ignorance.

Keep smilin'