Whatever happened to Billy Ray Johnson? He used to be a familiar face around town: the middle-aged and mentally challenged black man who was always walking the back roads of Linden.
On a September night in 2003, he was picked up and driven to a pasture party where four young white men gave him beer and told him to dance. They laughed and called him a nigger. Then one of them beat Billy Ray into unconsciousness. Afterward, his body was dumped on the side of a country road.
Johnson nearly died.
The collective shoulder shrug of Linden’s residents drew national outrage. “Old South racism lives in Texas town,” read one headline in the Chicago Tribune.
High-powered civil rights lawyer Morris Dees took up Johnson’s case, and in April 2007, a civil jury awarded a $9 million verdict. “After the case was over, they sat in the jury box and talked about how it had changed the community and the whole region,” Dees said in a recent phone interview.
“They felt the attention brought on the case by the news media was making their town look bad, but when they saw the facts brought out, they showed the nation they weren’t racially biased or bigoted and they could do justice.”
With the trial’s conclusion, the media glare turned elsewhere, and life as usual returned to most of Linden’s 2,100 residents. But Johnson’s story didn’t end there. The fight for his money was only beginning.
3,282 responses to “The ballad of Billy Ray”
I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They’re very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for novices. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
I have taken note that of all different types of insurance, medical insurance is the most controversial because of the discord between the insurance plan company’s necessity to remain profitable and the user’s need to have insurance policies. Insurance companies’ revenue on wellbeing plans are extremely low, so some corporations struggle to make a profit. Thanks for the strategies you write about through this site.
Have you ever considered publishing an ebook or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based upon on the same topics you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would appreciate your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e-mail.
Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any recommendations for beginner blog writers? I’d definitely appreciate it.
I really love your blog.. Pleasant colors & theme. Did you create this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m trying to create my own site and would like to know where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Thank you.
I’m not sure exactly why but this website is loading very slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
Hey there! I’ve been reading your website for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Houston Texas! Just wanted to tell you keep up the fantastic work!
I have come across that now, more and more people will be attracted to cams and the issue of pictures. However, being a photographer, you need to first devote so much time period deciding which model of photographic camera to buy and also moving via store to store just so you may buy the most affordable camera of the trademark you have decided to pick out. But it won’t end just there. You also have to think about whether you should obtain a digital dslr camera extended warranty. Thanks for the good points I acquired from your blog site.
An fascinating dialogue is worth comment. I feel that it’s best to write extra on this matter, it won’t be a taboo subject however typically persons are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers
Hi! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the fantastic work!
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Thank you for providing these details.
Would you be concerned with exchanging links?
Good article. I am experiencing some of these issues as well..
You can certainly see your skills in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.
I don?t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I do not know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
Everything is very open with a clear clarification of the issues. It was really informative. Your site is useful. Thanks for sharing.
Hi there, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you protect against it, any plugin or anything you can advise? I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any assistance is very much appreciated.
Wow! Thank you! I continuously wanted to write on my website something like that. Can I take a fragment of your post to my site?
As I website possessor I believe the content material here is rattling wonderful , appreciate it for your hard work. You should keep it up forever! Good Luck.
I couldn’t resist commenting. Well written.
This excellent website really has all the information I needed about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Greetings! Very useful advice within this article! It’s the little changes that will make the most important changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Can I simply say what a comfort to discover somebody that truly knows what they are discussing on the web. You definitely realize how to bring a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people ought to read this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you’re not more popular because you most certainly possess the gift.
Wow! Thank you! I continually needed to write on my website something like that. Can I include a fragment of your post to my blog?
Aw, this was an extremely good post. Finding the time and actual effort to make a top notch article… but what can I say… I put things off a lot and never seem to get nearly anything done.
Hi there! This blog post could not be written much better! Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I’ll send this information to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a very good read. Thank you for sharing!
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Reading this information So i?m happy to convey that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make sure to do not forget this web site and give it a glance regularly.
Thank you for sharing indeed great looking !
This actually answered my drawback, thanks!
I was suggested this website by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my trouble. You are wonderful! Thanks!
You need to take part in a contest for one of the greatest blogs on the net. I’m going to highly recommend this blog!
Everything is very open with a clear description of the issues. It was truly informative. Your website is very useful. Thank you for sharing.
you’re truly a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is incredible. It seems that you are doing any distinctive trick. Moreover, The contents are masterpiece. you have performed a magnificent job in this topic!
Very good article! We will be linking to this particularly great content on our site. Keep up the great writing.
Hello! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any methods to protect against hackers?
Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve visited your blog before but after looking at many of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m certainly delighted I found it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!
En iyi medyum olarak bir dan??man için medyum haluk hocay? seçin en iyi medyum hocalardan bir tanesidir.
En iyi medyum olarak bir dan??man için medyum haluk hocay? seçin en iyi medyum hocalardan bir tanesidir.
En iyi medyum olarak bir dan??man için medyum haluk hocay? seçin en iyi medyum hocalardan bir tanesidir.
En iyi medyum olarak bir dan??man için medyum haluk hocay? seçin en iyi medyum hocalardan bir tanesidir.
En iyi medyum olarak bir dan??man için medyum haluk hocay? seçin en iyi medyum hocalardan bir tanesidir.
En iyi medyum olarak bir dan??man için medyum haluk hocay? seçin en iyi medyum hocalardan bir tanesidir.
En iyi medyum olarak bir dan??man için medyum haluk hocay? seçin en iyi medyum hocalardan bir tanesidir.
En iyi medyum olarak bir dan??man için medyum haluk hocay? seçin en iyi medyum hocalardan bir tanesidir.
En iyi medyum olarak bir dan??man için medyum haluk hocay? seçin en iyi medyum hocalardan bir tanesidir.
whoah this blog is great i really like studying your articles. Keep up the good work! You already know, a lot of people are looking around for this information, you can aid them greatly.
It?s really a nice and helpful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
I can’t express how much I value the effort the author has put into producing this remarkable piece of content. The clarity of the writing, the depth of analysis, and the wealth of information offered are simply astonishing. His zeal for the subject is obvious, and it has certainly resonated with me. Thank you, author, for sharing your wisdom and enlightening our lives with this exceptional article!
I will right away grab your rss as I can not in finding your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please allow me know in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
Hi! I just wish to give you a huge thumbs up for the great info you have got here on this post. I will be returning to your website for more soon.