Turn Me Loose: The Unghosting of Medgar Evers

When Death Moved In

39 Wh en Death M oved I n Myrlie Evers It attached itself to our lives, first like an unplanned pregnancy, then like our fourth child. We didn’t talk about its disfigured face or its crooked limbs and spine. We went about the people’s business tried to pretend that it wasn’t really there, though some nights it filled every open space in the room, often crawling into bed between us, making it difficult to sleep. Every new registered voter, successful boycott, demonstration and prime-time television minute put fat on its face. Images of Medgar escorting James Meredith into Ole Miss were celebrated with new front teeth. When it crawled to the front door, and spoke its first cuss words it sounded like a car backfired twice. This page intentionally left blank ...