this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2026
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History

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[–] PixelatedSaturn@lemmy.world 84 points 3 months ago (8 children)

We forget how disturbingly cruel and barbarian groups of people and the state can be.

[–] saltesc@lemmy.world 29 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

Oh, it was always worse. But it does always get better. They'll say it about us one day; so long as we aren't currently approaching the finish line of society as it stands.

[–] arandomthought@sh.itjust.works 39 points 3 months ago (1 children)

But remember that with the whole "the arch of history bends towards justice" it does not do it on its own. There is no rule in the universe that says that. It only bends if we are the ones actually bending it.

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Then the saying is meaningless.

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[–] Rothe@piefed.social 11 points 3 months ago

But it does always get better.

That is unfortunately not a given at all.

[–] PixelatedSaturn@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yes, but I don't completely believe this. I think it can get worse.

[–] tetris11@feddit.uk 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I think it cycles better/worse/better/worse with an incremental trend towards better

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[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 12 points 3 months ago (7 children)

You might. Leftists know ACAB.

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[–] Akasazh@lemmy.world 78 points 3 months ago (1 children)

He was prepared for execution by electric chair, using a bible as a booster seat because Stinney was too small for the chair.

This sentence alone says a lot about the humanity involved.

Wretched human beings.

[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world 15 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I'm sure that book is a prized possession for someone I don't want to know.

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[–] LesserAbe@lemmy.world 70 points 3 months ago (2 children)

To be clear these photos are from a dramatization of the execution. Here's a Facebook post saying so, I'm sure a more in depth search would turn up a better source

[–] IndustryStandard@lemmy.world 27 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] LesserAbe@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Yeah, fuck Facebook. But also lets not share misleading images alongside what is a true and horrible injustice.

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 19 points 3 months ago

This seems notable.

[–] tetris11@feddit.uk 67 points 3 months ago (1 children)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stinney

He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death on a single day in April 1944 and then executed by electric chair on June 16, 1944,

His grade school teacher then lied on TV 50 years later saying he witnessed the murder for money.

[–] wildbus8979@sh.itjust.works 13 points 3 months ago (1 children)

He was prepared for execution by electric chair, using a bible as a booster seat because Stinney was too small for the chair.

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[–] chuckleslord@lemmy.world 40 points 3 months ago (4 children)

... this needs to be nsfw. This is a horrific image of someone's last moments as they're about to be murdered. People need to be able to decide if they are able to see it.

[–] semisimian@startrek.website 46 points 3 months ago

The image is from a short film: https://youtu.be/5iL1f-jV32A

George Stinney's execution is an example of how terrible we can be to each other. It has been depicted on screen a couple of times and is always gut-wrenching to watch. I just wanted you to know that this is not actual footage of him.

[–] axexrx@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Its apparently a dramatization if that helps

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[–] leftzero@lemmy.dbzer0.com 38 points 3 months ago

The USA is the only country in the world that hasn't ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, in good part because they don't want to have to stop executing children.

[–] guy@piefed.social 33 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I wonder what the people putting a child in the electric chair thought and felt

[–] Mirshe@lemmy.world 33 points 3 months ago

I'm sure a good chunk of them didn't view him as a child.

[–] pulsewidth@lemmy.world 12 points 3 months ago

They thought, "ah shit, he's not tall enough - grab that bible, we can boost him up higher."

Yes, really.

The USA was far too kind to the Confederate states post-war. The racism has been allowed to fester - and in many cases thrive ever since.

[–] Eternal192@anarchist.nexus 20 points 3 months ago

And nobody was held accountable because MURICA!!

[–] zebidiah@lemmy.ca 16 points 3 months ago (1 children)

"ThIs iSnT wHo We aRe.... "

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[–] ulterno@programming.dev 15 points 3 months ago

I'd rather use, "cooked alive", instead of "executed".
Would be more accurate and help understand what the act entails.

[–] Manjushri@piefed.social 14 points 3 months ago

This is absolutely horrific and a stain on humanity itself. And there is another aspect that isn't always brought up is cases of injustice like this. The police, lawyers, judges, and everyone else involved in the murder of this young boy, were quite literally covering up for the real murderer(s) of those girls. Whoever killed those girls went free, perhaps to kill again, because of the racist motivations of those involved in the trial and execution of this poor, scared, kid.

[–] Small_Quasar@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

And people think I'm weird for despising Amerikkka with every fibre of my being. 🤷

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