BILL SPARKMAN VICTIM FOUND HANGING FROM A TREE

51 YEAR OLD MAN, PART-TIME U.S.A. CENSUS WORKER
FOUND HANGING DEAD FROM A TREE
The victim's name is Bill Sparkman
September 12, 2009
in Daniel Boone National Forest
in rural southeastern Kentucky

The word "FED" was scrawled on victim's chest.

Western Governors University spotlighted Mr. Sparkman's story before this story
at
http://www.wgu.edu/wgu/profile_16

Here is the text:

Graduate Profile

William Sparkman
Graduate Speaker at February 2008 Commencement

Bill Sparkman's education story is one of thoughtful parental involvement for his son and for himself, personal fortitude in the face of very difficult circumstances, including very serious personal illness. He thought of it as volunteering in his son's classroom. He never imagined it would lead to a career change. Bill began his career path as a sports editor for the Mulberry Press and through various jobs thereafter, it landed him in London, Kentucky, just as his son was entering elementary school.

His son could pass any test but was struggling with completing the required assignments, so Bill thought by volunteering in the classroom that he could help his son's learning situation. Eventually, he was offered the job of a paraeducator. Several years into the job, he realized he was doing many of the same things that the teachers were doing. Talking with several other paraeducators, he learned they were all going to school, working on their teacher certifications.

"Being a single parent, I knew I couldn't quit my job and I would have limited nights to go to school, so it could take a long time to finish," said Bill. "I checked around and discovered Western Governors University. WGU offered everything that I wanted. I didn't have to sit in class and I could go as fast or as slow as I needed to."

Bill was making great progress when a life-threatening brick wall popped up. A cyst had formed on the right side of his neck and it was found to be non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Refusing to let that get in his way, he persevered. He began the necessary medical treatment and continued to do his student teaching. "My mentor provided me great support through this obstacle and continued leading me down the path to graduation," Bill said. "As more people discover WGU, I believe that more great teachers will be there for more students and be able to provide the support everyone deserves."

Bill graduated from WGU in December 2007 with his bachelor's degree in mathematics education. With warnings from his doctor about traveling by plane, Bill attended the actual graduation ceremony in February 2008 in an alternative way-—by driving all the way across the country to Salt Lake City to attend in person to receive the diploma he worked so hard to earn. While Bill is waiting for a math teacher position to open, he is substitute teaching in various school districts in London, Kentucky.

Note: WGU has learned that William Sparkman passed away unexpectedly in September 2009. The university and its staff extends condolences to Mr. Sparkman’s family and friends.

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Billie Holiday singing Strange_Fruit
First released in 1939 - 70 years ago

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Nina Simone singing Strange Fruit

I SEE HISTORY THROUGH MY LIMITED VISION

Peace Begins With Peace
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1957 Part 1 Interview of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Judge Waring of South Carolina
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1957 Part 2 Interview of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Judge Waring of South Carolina
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1957 Part 3 Interview of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Judge Waring of South Carolina

The 3 interviews were uploaded at Youtube by: Supenmanu, Manuel from Germany

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Strange Fruit
Upload and text by: BedsUniversity of United Kingdom

As a child brought up in financially impoverished community, the artist remembers creating makeshift toys from the discarded items of others; old tyres being a particular favourite. Often such items were decorated in an attempt to personalise them.

In many cultures the "tyre swing", is associated with childhood memories of play, often being found in woodland clearings or near water.

The upheavals in 1980-90's South Africa witnessed the establishment of the 'tyre necklace', a punishment which involves placing a tyre soaked in petrol around the victim's neck and setting it alight.

These things, amongst others, inform the making of this work. The title of the piece and soundtrack references a dark period in American History.

"Strange Fruit" is a song most famously performed by Billie Holiday that condemns American racism, particularly the practice of lynching and burning African Americans that was prevalent in the South at the time when it was written.

In her autobiography Lady Sings the Blues, Billie Holiday suggests that she, together with Lewis Allan, her accompanist Sonny White and arranger Danny Mendelsohn put the poem, written by Abel Meeropol, to music.

The "strange fruit" referred to in the lyrics are the bodies of African American men hanged during a lynching. They contrast the pastoral scenes of the South with the ugliness of racist violence. The lyrics were so chilling that Holiday later said "The first time I sang it, I thought it was a mistake. There wasn't even a patter of applause when I finished. Then a lone person began to clap nervously. Then suddenly everyone was clapping."

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

Project work by 2006 graduate Terry Massiah.

Billie Holiday in video singing Strange Fruit

From: 29 year old Brazilian MonsieurBaudelaire

The Terrible Piece of History

Barack Obama had a white mother and a black father

Pastor Jane Fisler Hoffman

Peace