The images seem more powerful when contextualized. No longer just a snapshot. It's a story that most today omit while referring to the "good old days". Good for whom?

The idea that photos of a lynching could be proudly used as proof of attendance, and considered to have "entertainment" value is mind-boggling. Even worse, they were made into postcards and handed out as souvenirs, just as today one might pick up magnets or tee-shirts at the Grand Canyon to send off to friends and relatives. It's an eye opening experience to view the collection at www.withoutsanctuary.org .

College boys taking turns raping an unconscious girl, policemen beating or shooting helpless people for trumped-up reasons, and a US President under constant racist attack masquerading as political comment - yes, it still doesn't take much to turn ' otherwise decent people ' into a mob, with its own rules and membership requirements. All you have to do is de-humanize your victim, and all the violence and hurt and fear and anger and scapegoat-searching comes out of you in a hot, blinding rush, as you light the blowtorch. I feel sad for our species.