Read. Think. Act.

Catherine Read

Archives for November 2016

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The Family Tree – Author Karen Branan

(Nov. 14, 2016) Catherine Read interviews author Karen Branan about her recently published book The Family Tree: A Lynching in Georgia, A Legacy of Secrets, and My Search for the Truth. A career journalist born and raised in Georgia, she became aware of a lynching in her family’s hometown of Hamilton through a comment made to her by her grandmother. It took over 25 years for the author to do the deep research necessary to uncover her family’s role in that tragic miscarriage of justice. Having come from a family of six Harris County Sheriffs, Ms. Branan was determined to find the truth of what happened on that fateful January night in 1912.

Ms. Branan’s journey is a deeply personal one. Her search into her own family’s history brought into focus the social, political and economic climate of the South that formed the backdrop for the series of events leading up to this lynching. One of the great strengths of her book is the well researched history that gives the central story some context. She was surprised to find the complex connections that existed in her family tree. In this interview she talks about recent DNA testing that has connected her to her African-American cousins in Harris County, Georgia.

This is an epic family drama at its core. In searching for the truth of what transpired at the Hamilton jail on that fateful night over 100 years ago, she had to address her own racism, the sense of responsibility for a great-grandfather who did not do his job in protecting those entrusted to his keeping, and the impact that decision made in that community.

Ms. Branan talks frankly in this interview about feeling that some acknowledgement needs to be made for the wrongs done to the African-American community. She understands the Black Lives Matter movement in the context of centuries of injustice done to generations of black Americans. Her own research, on so personal a level, has brought her face to face with her family’s role in the racial injustice perpetuated to this day.

This is a candid and thoughtful perspective on a dark aspect of our country’s history. I highly recommend reading her book The Family Tree.

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Election Eve Predictions with Pundit Ben Tribbett

(Nov. 7, 2016) Catherine Read speaks with well known political pundit Ben Tribbett on the eve of the 2016 presidential election pitting Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump. Known by many as @NotLarrySabato on Twitter, Ben has been blogging and prognosticating about elections since his high school days. A native of Virginia, he has been involved in numerous elections at a national, state and local level. This election season he is involved with a number of campaigns in various capacities and he takes time out to talk about the races of greatest interest to voters across Virginia.

In addition to the top of the ticket race, there are 11 Congressional seats in Virginia that will be decided as well. One of the most closely watched races is between two women candidates in Virginia’s 10th CD: incumbent Barbara Comstock (R) and challenger LuAnn Bennett (D). There is an open seat in the 5th CD with VA Senator Thomas Garrett (R) facing off against Jane Dittmar (D), and another open seat in the 4th CD where VA Senator Donald McEachin (D) is facing off against Mike Wade (R).

Another closely watched race is for the Mayor of Richmond which has three candidates at the top of a field of eight candidates vying for the top spot: Joe Morrissey, Jack Berry and Levar Stoney.

Locally we have a Meals Tax on the ballot in Fairfax County, and statewide, there is a Right to Work amendment to the Virginia Constitution on the ballot.

Should Tim Kaine become Vice President on Nov. 8th, there is a potential for an appointment that could cause a ripple affect among other elected offices elsewhere in the state. There is a great deal of speculation on who Gov. Terry McAuliffe might appoint to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy and who might be running to fill that seat in November of 2017.

Virginia is one of only two states with “off year” Governor’s races which means our voters and those in New Jersey will be facing major elections again next year. There will be primaries in June to determine the candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General for the 2017 election. Ben gives us his well thought out predictions on what might happen in these races and who we should keep our eye on.