About this episode

The episode explores the execution of Willie McGee and Bridgette McGee's quest to uncover the truth about her grandfather's past.

This episode includes topics and archival audio that some people will find disturbing. Seventy-five years ago, on the night of May 7th, 1951, close to a thousand people gathered around the courthouse in the small town of Laurel, Mississippi. They came to witness an execution. Willie McGee was a young Black man who had been accused of raping a white woman and sentenced to death. Six decades later, Bridgette McGee-Robinson teamed up with Radio Diaries to find the truth about what happened to her grandfather. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

More episodes of Radio Diaries

• Guest Spotlight: William Parker's War on Slave Catchers · April 2, 2026 · 39 min
• Detained: A Homecoming · March 27, 2026 · 16 min
• The Real Refugees of Casablanca · March 19, 2026 · 13 min
• Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier 3: The Trial · February 26, 2026 · 18 min
• Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier 2: Officer X · February 19, 2026 · 13 min
• Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier 1: The Bus Ride · February 12, 2026 · 12 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Radio Diaries podcast page.