Cara Anthony

I think Sykeston illustrates this intersection of racism and history and secret keeping and how all those things combine to affect the health of an individual and of a community.

I want to take you back to 1942, because that year, a Black man named Cleo Wright was lynched in Sykeston, Missouri.

I want to take you back to 1942, because that year, a Black man named Cleo Wright was lynched in Sykeston, Missouri.

I want to take you back to 1942, because that year, a Black man named Cleo Wright was lynched in Sykeston, Missouri.

This is Mabel Cook, or Miss Mabel as she was introduced to me. She was a teenager in Sykeston in the 1940s, and she witnessed Cleo Wright's lynching. A lot of Black families went through that same thing.

This is Mabel Cook, or Miss Mabel as she was introduced to me. She was a teenager in Sykeston in the 1940s, and she witnessed Cleo Wright's lynching. A lot of Black families went through that same thing.

This is Mabel Cook, or Miss Mabel as she was introduced to me. She was a teenager in Sykeston in the 1940s, and she witnessed Cleo Wright's lynching. A lot of Black families went through that same thing.

What was surprising is that this case captured national, even international attention. It was the first time a lynching ever led to a federal investigation, meaning the FBI investigated it as a crime for the first time.

What was surprising is that this case captured national, even international attention. It was the first time a lynching ever led to a federal investigation, meaning the FBI investigated it as a crime for the first time.

What was surprising is that this case captured national, even international attention. It was the first time a lynching ever led to a federal investigation, meaning the FBI investigated it as a crime for the first time.

But Emily, ultimately, it came to nothing. The all-white grand jury failed. was sympathetic to the mob. And with time, the story was buried, like nothing had ever happened.

But Emily, ultimately, it came to nothing. The all-white grand jury failed. was sympathetic to the mob. And with time, the story was buried, like nothing had ever happened.

But Emily, ultimately, it came to nothing. The all-white grand jury failed. was sympathetic to the mob. And with time, the story was buried, like nothing had ever happened.

Yeah, young people don't learn about him in Sykeson schools. Older people didn't want to talk about him much either. And fast forward about 80 years, Sykeson is still dealing with racism, violence, and silence. What do you mean by that? Well, in 2020, Sykeson police killed a young Black man named Denzel Taylor.

Yeah, young people don't learn about him in Sykeson schools. Older people didn't want to talk about him much either. And fast forward about 80 years, Sykeson is still dealing with racism, violence, and silence. What do you mean by that? Well, in 2020, Sykeson police killed a young Black man named Denzel Taylor.

Yeah, young people don't learn about him in Sykeson schools. Older people didn't want to talk about him much either. And fast forward about 80 years, Sykeson is still dealing with racism, violence, and silence. What do you mean by that? Well, in 2020, Sykeson police killed a young Black man named Denzel Taylor.

Even though he was unarmed, the city's chief of public safety told me that officers believed Denzel had a gun and feared for their lives. The officers themselves declined to comment. Denzel's family later sued the city of Sykeston. The city and the family reached a wrongful death settlement for $2 million. Close to half of it went to legal fees.

Even though he was unarmed, the city's chief of public safety told me that officers believed Denzel had a gun and feared for their lives. The officers themselves declined to comment. Denzel's family later sued the city of Sykeston. The city and the family reached a wrongful death settlement for $2 million. Close to half of it went to legal fees.

Even though he was unarmed, the city's chief of public safety told me that officers believed Denzel had a gun and feared for their lives. The officers themselves declined to comment. Denzel's family later sued the city of Sykeston. The city and the family reached a wrongful death settlement for $2 million. Close to half of it went to legal fees.

And in the wake of these events, there was a lot of silence. Emily, multiple people asked me why I was examining the deaths of Cleo Wright and Denzel Taylor side by side. As a health reporter, I wanted to focus on the trauma that remains after the violence against these men, the possible health effects for their families and their communities.