Go to Africa? Who?? Not Me!!

My father's family witnessed horrible things. Daddy’s mother, Katherine Cook Dennis ("Grandma Katcie") had buried two husbands: John Dennis and Allen Dennis, double first cousins. Both were murdered by mean White folk for no reason except their skin color.

“Many bullets could be shaken out of his clothing,” Aunt Virnel said of her mother's first husband, John. Tears came to my eyes. “He was walking through the woods. A group of White men had an unsuccessful hunting trip. They decided to use him as their ‘catch’ for the day and riddled his body with bullets.”

Time passed. Grandma married Allen Dennis, a good husband and father. They had 13 children.

Blacks owned land in Sabine County, Texas.. My grandparents were children of former slaves (Dave & Martha Dennis, and Sharper & Harriet Cook). They worked hard, growing and harvesting cotton. Having a large family helped. My uncles were strong and my Aunt Mary Lee worked like a man and could shoot a snake with a shotgun from across the field. They all married and farmed their land (which is still owned by the family heirs).

Nice White people lived in the area but mean ones were in the majority. Horrible things were done to Black men (and women).

Young Black girls were at the mercy of the lustful White men. Three beautiful girls were eyed by some evil men. Their father (my grandfather’s brother) didn't speak up because the White men were exceptionally cruel.

Grandpa told them not to touch these girls (his nieces). He was scared but did what was right. From that day forward he was on their “hit list.”

Grandpa, Grandma and some of their children were walking from the store when these White men approached on horses. They taunted Grandpa and hit him with rifles. He passed my Aunt Virnel to Grandma. The men got off their horses and beat him. Grandma pleaded with them to stop but was told to shut up or they would kill her and the children. They watched these men unmercifully beat Grandpa.

“He’s probably gone!” the men yelled. “Go home,” Grandma was told. She obeyed. As soon as the abusers left Grandma got her older sons, and brought Grandpa home.

Grandpa was seriously injured. They administered country remedies. He recovered but had limited activity. His alert mind was gone; he'd do strange things. He could not farm so his brothers and children worked.

These men beat Grandpa again. His physical condition was weak, but his inner strength was strong despite the head injuries. .

Singing was a God-given talent in our family (excluding me). My father’s brother Morris was known for his singing. The program held at County Line Baptist Church would not have been complete without him.

“LOVE! OH LOVE! OH CARELESS LOVE!” was the song he chose. He dramatically pulled out his toy pistols on this verse:

“I’m going to shine my .45 in your face

and your grave will be your resting place.”

White folk attended these programs; they enjoyed seeing Black folk perform. The troublemakers attended and took offense at Uncle Morris’ pointing the pistol.

When the program ended everyone went outside. The troublemakers were waiting. They quarreled about Uncle Morris’ singing.

My cousin D.S. Wright was young but remembers my father’s sister putting them in the wagon, telling them to look down. He said they peeked and watched in horror at the treatment of Grandpa.

Cousin Marcene Dennis-Mosby, age 92 at this writing, remembers it. She said a Black woman named Glossie could whip the average man. When the White men beat Grandpa, people ran. Glossie grabbed one man, hit him one blow … and knocked him out cold!

Marcene explained why the mean White folk hated Grandpa. His brother, Lewis ("Buster") killed a White man who came to the house one night, because the man wanted his wife. Uncle Buster begged the man not to do it, saying his wife and children were in bed. “Negro you better go for a walk before I shoot you,” the White man ordered, aiming his shotgun at Uncle Buster’s head. Uncle Buster left, got his shotgun, returned as the man was removing his pants, and shot him in the head.

They had to leave town IMMEDIATELY!! Someone got a wagon, drove as far as they could, then got another wagon and went to Texarkana. From there Uncle Buster went into Oklahoma.

Elderly relatives told two versions of the story. Marcene said after the killing, Uncle Buster hid in the woods. A White man, also a friend and a fellow-Mason, helped him escape. Whichever is true, he got to Oklahoma.

The White folk were furious. They harassed the Dennis males and demanded money.

My father and his cousin Sharper Cook said the Ku Klux Klan grabbed five young male relatives and hanged them on a tree at the fork of the road, insisting all the young men see the bodies. They said, “Five [Negroes] are not worth one White man.”

After the program, Grandma put her children in the wagon and went home, without her husband. There was little sleeping but A LOT OF PRAYING.

The next morning Grandma's son-in-law, Anderson Wright arrived, saying Grandpa crawled to their house, and Uncle Anderson would bring him home after dark.

What a sight he was to see! Grandma nursed him and did her best to help him, but this beating was too severe. Cousin D.S. remembers sitting by the bed, holding Grandpa’s hand as Grandma used home remedies to keep him comfortable.

He lived about two months and died in his 40's.

When Daddy was a teenager, he and his brothers wanted to get the White men who killed their dad. The sheriff sent word to Grandma Katcie that she’d better keep her boys at home unless she wanted to see them hung too.

In the segregated South, many such occurrences have not been recorded. Thank God this is a new day because HISTORY FORGOTTEN CAN BECOME HISTORY REPEATED!