photo of the hatchie river
photo of the hatchie river

A New Book by Jim Emison

The Vote—
Bought with Blood

Uncover the 1940 black voting rights murder and the federal cover-up that foreshadowed the voting rights bloodbath of the 1950s & '60s. Discover the true story of Elbert Williams, the NAACP's first voting rights martyr.

Coming
October 2026

murder on the hatchie book cover
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The Hatchie, six miles south of Brownsville, from which Elbert Williams's corpse was pulled Sunday June 23, 1940.

“A powerful and necessary reminder of the courage and sacrifice that shaped the NAACP’s earliest fight for justice.”

—Derrick Johnson
President and CEO, NAACP

  • Elbert Williams

    Life & Legacy

    Elbert Williams was determined to register black voters. In 1940 Tennessee that risked death.

    About Elbert Williams
  • Close-up of a calendar showing February through November, with red dates indicating weekends, and the current month highlighting the days from 1 to 31.

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    Calendar of Events
  • Jim Emison

    Author Jim Emison

    Jim Emison, a renowned, award-winning, courtroom lawyer of forty-three years.

    About Jim Emison
A black-and-white photo of the late civil rights hero, Rep. John Lewis

The Honorable

JOhn Lewis

The late civil rights hero, Rep. John Lewis, recorded a message for a memorial service held on the 75th anniversary of Elbert Williams’s murder.

Courtesy John Lewis

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View fullsize He listened to the Joe Louis fight, kissed his wife goodnight, and answered a knock at the door. He was never seen alive again. Swipe for what happened to Elbert Williams on the night of June 20, 1940 — reconstructed from FBI files, the coron
View fullsize Pre-order Murder on the Hatchie now at Barnes & Noble online and save! Premium & Rewards Members save 25% with code: PREORDER25 until September 11th.
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View fullsize The High Clay Bluff, Hatchie River, south of Brownsville, Tennessee. Kidnapped by police, the night of June 20, 1940, Elbert Williams’s corpse was hauled out of the muddy Hatchie, three days later, Sunday morning June 23. Let’s make sure
View fullsize Honored to be featured in the @nyamnews today — full story linked in bio
View fullsize At North Jackson & East Main Street in Brownsville, Tennessee, stands the State’s official historical marker dedicated to the late Elbert Williams, slain because he dared advance the #NAACP’s effort to #registerblackvoters. On June 2
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Follow Jim as he shares the Elbert Williams story with America. Say his name-Elbert Williams!

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