Category: African-American History

African-American History, History

The Double-Edged Sword of Legacy: My Father’s Work and Its Unintended Impact

A Wake-Up Call Recently, I have been confronted with some troubling developments that have compelled me to reflect deeply on my father’s legacy and how his work has been interpreted—and at times, misinterpreted. My father, William Henry Mackey, Jr., was a scholar and teacher of Black history—though to him, it was simply history. He believed …

African-American History, Life in general, and perhaps the Pursuit of Happiness

The Homecoming by William Henry Mackey, Jr.

William Henry Mackey, Jr.

This is the prologue to the book “Down Home: My Return to the Georgia Backwoods” written by my father early 1970’s. The book is an exploration of the area in rural Georgia that he grew up in and how it changed in the 50 years since he was born there, especially focusing on the history …

African-American History, History, It's all about ME!

Lessons learned… (an act of violence and thoughts on the passing of a classmate)

Lessons learned long ago from a friend….and an act of violence.