Dave Davies

So Elwood, he is committed to the principles of the civil rights movement and looks forward to participating. What's his attitude towards – You know, the life ahead of him where he's got to deal with segregation and deal with a white power structure and limited opportunities. How does he conduct himself?

So Elwood, he is committed to the principles of the civil rights movement and looks forward to participating. What's his attitude towards – You know, the life ahead of him where he's got to deal with segregation and deal with a white power structure and limited opportunities. How does he conduct himself?

So Elmwood, this optimistic young man, ends up in this reform school because he hitches a ride with a guy who happens to have stolen a car. He gets convicted of car theft and he's in this place. How do his values mesh with the experience that confronts him?

So Elmwood, this optimistic young man, ends up in this reform school because he hitches a ride with a guy who happens to have stolen a car. He gets convicted of car theft and he's in this place. How do his values mesh with the experience that confronts him?

So Elmwood, this optimistic young man, ends up in this reform school because he hitches a ride with a guy who happens to have stolen a car. He gets convicted of car theft and he's in this place. How do his values mesh with the experience that confronts him?

You know, I thought we would listen to a piece of tape from an NPR report. This is from 2012, a reporter named Greg Allen. And it's based on his conversation with a guy who survived Dozier named Jerry Cooper and what happened when he had committed some offense and was taken to the White House for some discipline. Let's listen.

You know, I thought we would listen to a piece of tape from an NPR report. This is from 2012, a reporter named Greg Allen. And it's based on his conversation with a guy who survived Dozier named Jerry Cooper and what happened when he had committed some offense and was taken to the White House for some discipline. Let's listen.

You know, I thought we would listen to a piece of tape from an NPR report. This is from 2012, a reporter named Greg Allen. And it's based on his conversation with a guy who survived Dozier named Jerry Cooper and what happened when he had committed some offense and was taken to the White House for some discipline. Let's listen.

And that's from a report from NPR reporter Greg Allen about abuses at the Dozer School. The story has inspired the novel by our guest Colson Whitehead. It's called The Nickel Boys. That really is the way it happened, isn't it?

And that's from a report from NPR reporter Greg Allen about abuses at the Dozer School. The story has inspired the novel by our guest Colson Whitehead. It's called The Nickel Boys. That really is the way it happened, isn't it?

And that's from a report from NPR reporter Greg Allen about abuses at the Dozer School. The story has inspired the novel by our guest Colson Whitehead. It's called The Nickel Boys. That really is the way it happened, isn't it?

Right. And what would it do to a student's back to get 100 of those kinds of lashes delivered with that kind of force?

Right. And what would it do to a student's back to get 100 of those kinds of lashes delivered with that kind of force?

Right. And what would it do to a student's back to get 100 of those kinds of lashes delivered with that kind of force?

We're listening to my interview with Colson Whitehead. His novel The Nickel Boys has been adapted into a film of the same name, now in theaters. We'll hear more of the interview after a break. I'm Dave Davies, and this is Fresh Air.

We're listening to my interview with Colson Whitehead. His novel The Nickel Boys has been adapted into a film of the same name, now in theaters. We'll hear more of the interview after a break. I'm Dave Davies, and this is Fresh Air.

We're listening to my interview with Colson Whitehead. His novel The Nickel Boys has been adapted into a film of the same name, now in theaters. We'll hear more of the interview after a break. I'm Dave Davies, and this is Fresh Air.

So a lot of kids were beaten and there are a lot of stories about this. Do we believe that kids were murdered?

So a lot of kids were beaten and there are a lot of stories about this. Do we believe that kids were murdered?

So a lot of kids were beaten and there are a lot of stories about this. Do we believe that kids were murdered?