Henry Marrow
Encyclopedia
Henry Dortress Marrow, Junior (January 7, 1947 - May 12, 1970), called Dickie by his friends and family, was 23 when he was murdered in Oxford, North Carolina
on May 11, 1970, the victim of a violent hate crime
. Henry Marrow's three killers were all found not guilty. This verdict spurred rioting by black
s in the county and influenced events across the country.
, Henry lived with his mother's parents in Oxford during his childhood, eventually moving in with the Chavis family during his adolescence while he attended Mary Potter High School. After his graduation, Henry attended Kittrell College
for about a year.
At the age of 19, Henry Marrow, Jr. joined the military and was stationed in Fort Bragg
in the same state; however, Henry did not like Army life and snuck home often, making a three-hour trip, sometimes to see one Willie Mae Sidney. Henry was subsequently discharged and moved back to Oxford, taking employment at Umstead Hospital in Butner, NC and marrying Ms. Sidney.
Willie Mae Marrow gave birth to two girls, Tammy and Tasha, and was carrying a third daughter when her husband was killed.
. On the day of Marrow's funeral, mourners marched from the gravesite to the Confederate
monument in downtown Oxford, where leaders spoke about the significance of the murder. A similar march was held the next day.
As upsetting as the murder to the black community was the fact that the white establishment quickly rallied to support Robert and Larry Teel, who were charged with the murder. A legal defense fund was established, and the Ku Klux Klan
stepped up its activities in the area.
In reaction to these events, a group of black Vietnam
veterans launched a campaign of arson against the white business community. The burning of several warehouses and shops was worth an estimated $1 million in damages.
At the murder trial, following a jury selection process which produced an all white jury, the defense team first attempted to portray the murder as self defense, then on the last day of the trial, produced as a witness Roger Oakley, who claimed that he had fired the fatal shot, but accidentally (several witnesses had identified Larry Teel as the shooter). The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts, a result which the prosecutor declared "absolutely the worst miscarriage of justice I have ever seen."
After the trial, Benjamin Chavis, a local civil rights organizer, started a boycott of white-owned businesses in the area. This boycott was eventually successful in bringing about racial integration
in Oxford. By late autumn of 1970, the white community was forced to agree to the integration of the town.
Oxford, North Carolina
Oxford is a city in Granville County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,461 at the 2010 census It is the county seat of Granville County.-History:...
on May 11, 1970, the victim of a violent hate crime
Hate crime
In crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, social status or...
. Henry Marrow's three killers were all found not guilty. This verdict spurred rioting by black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
s in the county and influenced events across the country.
Biography
"Dickie" Marrow was born to Henry D. Marrow, Sr. and Ivey Hunt Marrow on January 7, 1947. His parents separated early on, and when Henry, Sr. died in a violent quarrel, Ivey could not provide for her son alone. While his mother was working in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Henry lived with his mother's parents in Oxford during his childhood, eventually moving in with the Chavis family during his adolescence while he attended Mary Potter High School. After his graduation, Henry attended Kittrell College
Kittrell College
Kittrell College was a two-year historically black college located in Kittrell, North Carolina from about 1886 until 1975. It was associated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church....
for about a year.
At the age of 19, Henry Marrow, Jr. joined the military and was stationed in Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
in the same state; however, Henry did not like Army life and snuck home often, making a three-hour trip, sometimes to see one Willie Mae Sidney. Henry was subsequently discharged and moved back to Oxford, taking employment at Umstead Hospital in Butner, NC and marrying Ms. Sidney.
Willie Mae Marrow gave birth to two girls, Tammy and Tasha, and was carrying a third daughter when her husband was killed.
Aftermath
The Marrow murder prompted the first major stirrings of the American Civil Rights Movement in Granville CountyGranville County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 59,916 people in 20,628 households residing in the county. The population density was 111.6 people per square mile . There were 22,827 housing units at an average density of 42.5 per square mile...
. On the day of Marrow's funeral, mourners marched from the gravesite to the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
monument in downtown Oxford, where leaders spoke about the significance of the murder. A similar march was held the next day.
As upsetting as the murder to the black community was the fact that the white establishment quickly rallied to support Robert and Larry Teel, who were charged with the murder. A legal defense fund was established, and the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
stepped up its activities in the area.
In reaction to these events, a group of black Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veterans launched a campaign of arson against the white business community. The burning of several warehouses and shops was worth an estimated $1 million in damages.
At the murder trial, following a jury selection process which produced an all white jury, the defense team first attempted to portray the murder as self defense, then on the last day of the trial, produced as a witness Roger Oakley, who claimed that he had fired the fatal shot, but accidentally (several witnesses had identified Larry Teel as the shooter). The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts, a result which the prosecutor declared "absolutely the worst miscarriage of justice I have ever seen."
After the trial, Benjamin Chavis, a local civil rights organizer, started a boycott of white-owned businesses in the area. This boycott was eventually successful in bringing about racial integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
in Oxford. By late autumn of 1970, the white community was forced to agree to the integration of the town.