Orice Jenkins book launch: ‘The Early County Massacre: Goolsby vs. the State of Georgia’

The LAVA Center is excited to host Orice Jenkins’ local launch for his new book, The Early County Massacre: Goolsby vs. the State of Georgia on Friday, Sept. 6, 6 p.m. at 324 Main St., Greenfield.

Jenkins takes a fresh look at an event known as the Grandison Goolsby War in Early County, Georgia, that erupted in late December 1915. On December 28 of that year, Ulysses Goolsby, a young African American man, made his way to the wedding reception for Leila Mae Smith and Major John Powell with three friends. On his way, he was accosted by Henry Villepigue, overseer on a large plantation, who was unhappy about the road being occupied by African American youth. Villepigue whipped young Goolsby at gunpoint. Two days later, Ulysses’ father, Grandison Goolsby, defended himself with firepower from a lynch mob. This kicked off the “Grandison Goolsby War.”

Over a century later, Orice Jenkins has brought the events of late December 1915 back to life in his new book, The Early County Massacre. In it, Jenkins explores the relationships between the victims and survivors, looking especially at the sacrifices of Grandison and Mary Goolsby.

Jenkins is a poet, musician, historian and educator, most notably as the Executive Director of Música Franklin.

Join us at the LAVA Center on Friday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. to listen to Jenkins introduce his timely and important new book, which will be available for sale.

This programming is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, with funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.