West Virginia- A Hotbed of Hate?

West Virginia is not exactly known as a friendly place for black folks- though the last time I went (this was about 22 years ago)- I didn't make out too badly. Then again, I was in Madison, a pretty integrated community at the time.

But even though West Virginia is known for hillbillies and rednecks, and card-holding Ku Klux Klan members, a crime so horrific has happened in the coal mining country of Logan County. One that may even shock the white supremacist fringe of society.

For a week, 20-year-old Megan Williams was kidnapped; repeatedly raped; and forced to eat dog and rat feces, as her captors beat her and broke at least one arm, and cut her hair.

Now, 49-year-old Frankie Brewster; along with her 24-year-old son, Bobby; Karen Burton, 46; Burton's 23-year-old daughter Alisha; George Messer, 27; and Danny Combs, 20 are facing numerous charges, including possible hate crimes- Ms. Williams is black; all of the accused are white, and have criminal records.

What drove six people to kidnap a woman, one who probably- judging from her age- is a college student? What was the reason- or reasons- behind the vicious acts of savagery? Why, even in 2007, does hatred for other races and/or cultures exist, that's beyond the comphrension of many, myself included.

Sure, the people of the unincorporated community of Big Creek- and Logan County, in general- say that they're shocked. I cannot help but wonder if they're genuinely shocked over the vicious crime- that may possibly be a hate crime- happened in their own backyard. Or that they're shocked that the apparently rampant racism itself may have been exposed, like a hemorrhaging wound that just won't go away.

Only in West Virginia, I suppose...

Click on the title for the link from WSAZ-TV, which has continuing coverage on this.

Copyright (C)2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.