How a WWII veteran's act of voting inspired a teenage Martin Luther King Jr.

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How a WWII veteran's act of voting inspired a teenage Martin Luther King Jr.

Transcript¹

In 1945, U.S. Army veteran Maceo Snipes returned home to Taylor County, Ga., where he became the first African American to cast a vote in his county's primary. A day after he voted, he was murdered.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's Friday, which is when we hear from StoryCorps. And on this Martin Luther King Day weekend, the story of a man who inspired a teenage Dr. King. We should warn this story includes a description of racial violence. U.S. Army veteran Maceo Snipes was serving in World War II. In 1945, he returned home to Taylor County, Ga., where he became the first African American to cast a vote in his county primary.

RAYNITA SNIPES JOHNSON: But the day after he voted, four men drove up on the family farm, and they shot him. My grandmother went down and reported this lynching, but no one was ever arrested.

INSKEEP: Raynita Snipes Johnson is Maceo Snipes' great niece. She only recently learned her uncle's story and shared it with her friend, Gene² Robinson.

JOHNSON: Right after he was shot, there was a note on a church door, and it said the first N to vote won't vote again, and anyone who preaches about Maceo Snipes better dig a grave for themselves. So our family never discussed what happened to him.

GENE ROBINSON: Wow.

JOHNSON: But after his killing³, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter to the newspaper as it related to the killing of Maceo Snipes. When I found that letter, it really resonated because he expressed how he felt about the injustice⁴ to our Black citizens not allowed to vote and nothing's being done about it. You know, my uncle knew what he was doing when he walked into that election office, and he didn't let intimidation⁵ turn him from exercising his right.

ROBINSON: He was a warrior⁶ and a true American because he took the weight and said, I'm going to do what everyone should do.

JOHNSON: My uncle, a man I have never met, was a determined⁷ man. And when I look at his picture, I can see the sternness in him, but I can see the love that was in him. And through spirit, I feel him calling me to say, your vote matters, the Black vote matters.

(SOUNDBITE OF BLUE DOT SESSIONS' "TWO DOLLAR TOKEN")

INSKEEP: Raynita Snipes Johnson speaking with her friend, Gene Robinson. Today, members of the Snipes are working to get a historical marker for Maceo Snipes erected⁸ in Taylor County. Her story was recorded in collaboration⁹ with FRONTLINE as part of a series called Un(re)solved, which documents cold case murders during the civil rights era. And this conversation is archived at the Library of Congress.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

3 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

4 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

5 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

6 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 ERECTED   

adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立

参考例句：

• A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
• A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。

9 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。