Arts
The final episode of The Tale was inspired by the story of Virginia Christian, who was executed by electric chair on August 16, 1912 -- the day after her 17th birthday. Virginia was executed for the murder of Ida Belote, her employer. Virginia was young, poor, reportedly mentally disabled and Black. This case garnered much attention, not just due to Virginia’s age and mental state, but to the issue of workplace abuse. Up to the date of her execution organizations and newspapers all across the country lobbied for her sentence to be reduced to life in prison. Listen to Part II of our story, The Chair and hear Ginnie Mae's side of the story.