Paper Apologizes for '40 Acres, Mule' Tweet

(The Root) โ€” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is learning that social media and slavery tweets don't mix. Suggested Reading The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+ Why NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Tried To Play The Black Card…Literally Have You Heard of The Tragic Story of Phyllis Hyman, a Beautiful, Soulful Singer Derailed…

(The Root) โ€” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is learning that social media and slavery tweets don't mix.

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Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

An Atlanta man named Willie Lynch recently was the winner of the $1 million Georgia lottery. Historically, "Willie Lynch" is believed to have been the name of a slave owner who gave a speech on how to control slaves on a plantation. The speech was later crafted into a letter โ€” which some historians think is a hoax โ€” that has made its rounds on the Internet.

What isn't a hoax is that someone at the newspaper made the connection between Willie Lynch, the lottery winner, and the other Willie Lynch and decided to tweet, "$1M GA Lottery winner Willie Lynch can get 40 acres and a whole lotta mules." The tweet has since been deleted and an apology has been issued.

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