043 The Goat Castle Murder in Jim Crow Mississippi

This week I speak with historian Karen Cox, author of a new book titled: Goat Castle: A True Story of Murder, Race, and the Gothic South. It tells the incredible story of a murder that took place in Natchez, Mississippi in 1932. It's a captivating tale in its own right, but as you'll soon hear, the Goat Castle story reveals a great deal about the US in the early years of the Great Depression, everything from mass media and sensationalism, to Jim Crow racism and popular nostalgia for the Old South. Among the many things discussed in this episode:  What was the 1932 Goat Castle murder in Natchez, MS? How the 1932 Goat Castle murder reveals the injustice at the heart of Jim Crow. How white privilege and ties to the old planter aristocracy allowed two citizens of Natchez to get away with murder – and even profit from it. Why the 1932 Goat Castle murder in Natchez, MS captivated the nation. How modern media turned the 1932 Goat Castle murder in Natchez, MS into a national sensation. How nostalgia for the Old South remained strong in the 1930s. About Karen Cox – website Further Reading Karen Cox, Goat Castle: A True Story of Murder, Race, and the Gothic South (UNC Press, 2017)  Music for This Episode Jay Graham, ITPL Intro (JayGMusic.com) Kevin McCleod, "Impact Moderato" (Free Music Archive) Jon Luc Hefferman "Winter Trek" (Free Music Archive) The Bell, "I Am History" (Free Music Archive) Production Credits Executive Producer: Lulu Spencer Technical Advisors: Holly Hunt and Jesse Anderson Podcasting Consultant: Darrell Darnell of Pro Podcast Solutions Photographer: John Buckingham Graphic Designer: Maggie Cellucci Website by: ERI Design Legal services: Tippecanoe and Tyler Too Social Media management: The Pony Express Risk Assessment: Little Big Horn Associates Growth strategies: 54 40 or Fight © Snoring Beagle International, 2017