The word is "shushky."

It means to shush something -- to not speak about something, to silence a conversation. It is a uniquely Southern Jewish Yiddishism.

Let me tell you about the first time that I heard that word.

I was with a group of Jews in Atlanta, Georgia. The conversation turned to the topic of Leo Frank. I suggested that it might be a “nice idea” to have a monument for him, somewhere in Atlanta.

As they say -- awkward.

"Under no circumstances," someone said.

"It’s too raw. It’s too fresh,” another person said.

"Let's just shushky the whole thing, shall we?" yet another person said.

Consider the musical, "Parade," with the book by Alfred Uhry, author of "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Last Night of Ballyhoo," now revived on Broadway. It has gotten good reviews, along with some harassment by antisemites.

Why "Parade," and why now?

Because "Parade" is the story of the life and death of Leo Frank. His story will no longer be shushkied. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices