In 1956, the California Eagle and the Arizona Sun published simultaneous reports on a cross-burning in New Orleans. Both articles recorded that a sign had been placed above the blaze that read: “Keep our kids safe from the black plague.”[1] Both reports also noted that the cross-burning occurred near the monument of CSA President Jefferson Davis. The California Eagle took the additional step of connecting the cross-burning to an incident involving the director of the NAACP in Florence, South Carolina. The director refused to use the back door at a railroad station and was arrested.[2]
Justin Seward
References
Arizona Sun. “New Appearance of Old Symbol.” March 8, 1956, 7.
California Eagle. “Cross Burns in New Orleans.” March 1, 1956, 1.