We forget how disturbingly cruel and barbarian groups of people and the state can be.
this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2026
366 points (95.8% liked)
History
6339 readers
10 users here now
Welcome to History!
A community dedicated to sharing and discussing fascinating historical facts from all periods and regions.
Rules:
-
Post about history. Ask a question about the past, share a link to an article about something historical, or talk about something related to history that interests you. Discussion is encouraged.
-
No memes. No ads. No promos. No politics. No spam.
-
No porn.
-
We like facts and reliable sources here. While sources like Quora/Reddit/Wikipedia can be great tools for quick searches, we do not allow such user-generated content as primary source. What’s wrong with Wikipedia?
NOTE: Personal attacks and insults will not be tolerated. Stick to talking about the historical topic at hand in your comments. Insults and personal attacks will get you an immediate ban.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Oh, it was always worse. But it does always get better. They'll say it about us one day; so long as we aren't currently approaching the finish line of society as it stands.
But remember that with the whole "the arch of history bends towards justice" it does not do it on its own. There is no rule in the universe that says that. It only bends if we are the ones actually bending it.
But it does always get better.
That is unfortunately not a given at all.
Yes, but I don't completely believe this. I think it can get worse.
I think it cycles better/worse/better/worse with an incremental trend towards better
load more comments
(1 replies)
load more comments
(6 replies)
He was prepared for execution by electric chair, using a bible as a booster seat because Stinney was too small for the chair.
This sentence alone says a lot about the humanity involved.
Wretched human beings.
I'm sure that book is a prized possession for someone I don't want to know.
load more comments
(2 replies)
To be clear these photos are from a dramatization of the execution. Here's a Facebook post saying so, I'm sure a more in depth search would turn up a better source
Yeah, fuck Facebook. But also lets not share misleading images alongside what is a true and horrible injustice.
This seems notable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stinney
He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death on a single day in April 1944 and then executed by electric chair on June 16, 1944,
His grade school teacher then lied on TV 50 years later saying he witnessed the murder for money.
He was prepared for execution by electric chair, using a bible as a booster seat because Stinney was too small for the chair.
load more comments
(1 replies)
... this needs to be nsfw. This is a horrific image of someone's last moments as they're about to be murdered. People need to be able to decide if they are able to see it.
The image is from a short film: https://youtu.be/5iL1f-jV32A
George Stinney's execution is an example of how terrible we can be to each other. It has been depicted on screen a couple of times and is always gut-wrenching to watch. I just wanted you to know that this is not actual footage of him.
load more comments
(1 replies)
The USA is the only country in the world that hasn't ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, in good part because they don't want to have to stop executing children.
I wonder what the people putting a child in the electric chair thought and felt
I'm sure a good chunk of them didn't view him as a child.
They thought, "ah shit, he's not tall enough - grab that bible, we can boost him up higher."
The USA was far too kind to the Confederate states post-war. The racism has been allowed to fester - and in many cases thrive ever since.
And nobody was held accountable because MURICA!!
I'd rather use, "cooked alive", instead of "executed".
Would be more accurate and help understand what the act entails.
This is absolutely horrific and a stain on humanity itself. And there is another aspect that isn't always brought up is cases of injustice like this. The police, lawyers, judges, and everyone else involved in the murder of this young boy, were quite literally covering up for the real murderer(s) of those girls. Whoever killed those girls went free, perhaps to kill again, because of the racist motivations of those involved in the trial and execution of this poor, scared, kid.
And people think I'm weird for despising Amerikkka with every fibre of my being. 🤷
view more: next ›