This is part 2 of Mike Wood’s interview with Deborah Tulani Salahu-Din of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In last week’s show, Mike asked her if there was a particular artifact that resonates with her. The story she tells, and the amazing way the artifact came into her possession, is the subject of this week’s show.

Matthew Williams and the Rope

In the Segregation Era gallery of the museum there is an 8-inch piece of rope. This rope was used in the lynching of a 23-year-old African American man, Matthew Williams, in Salisbury, Michigan in 1931. Deborah’s search for artifacts relating to Paul Henderson led her to the discovery of the rope. Henderson himself was present at the lynching; he secured a piece of the rope, and wrote a note about the event. Deborah comments, “It was almost as if he was speaking from the grave and telling the story of racial violence against Matthew Williams and the broader story of lynching and the spectator sport that it had become.” 

Resources

Deborah’s article about Matthew Williams and the Rope