Davis W. Houck, Ph.D., Professor at Florida State University’s School of Communication, took his class on a field trip to Jackson County on Friday, November 7th. “We were there to visit several sites associated with the lynching of Claude Neal,” said Houck. The lynching, recognized nationwide for its brutality, caught the attention of anti-lynching activists and Congress. The case was the catalyst for the ending of lynching in the United States.

“More than half the class gave up a big part of their Friday to go, so it was a most educational and memorable trip,” said Houck.

During the trip, Dale Cox, author and researcher for the case, shared his knowledge with the students. Cox will be working with FSU on a documentary on the Neal Case and is considering donating his lynching-themed papers to FSU’s special collections.

“Thanks to the School of Communication for supporting the trip,” said Houck.

Houck, a nationally recognized expert on the American civil rights movement, is the author and editor of 10 books including the Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1965, Emmett Till and the Mississippi Press (with Matthew A. Grindy). In addition to a Pulitzer Prize, Houck has also been honored for his work with Leon County’s Boys and Girls Clubs with FSU’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award and the Florida Education Association’s Human Rights Award.