AAHM Series: The Early County Massacre: Goolsby vs. The State of Georgia

With Author Orice Jenkins

Join us for a powerful presentation and conversation with Orice Jenkins, author of The Early County Massacre: Memory and Resistance, as he examines one of the most consequential yet misunderstood episodes of racial violence in Georgia history. Often referred to for more than a century as the “Grandison Goolsby War,” the events surrounding the Early County Massacre reveal a far more complex story rooted in family, community, and survival.

Drawing on meticulous research and deep familial knowledge, Jenkins—also a family historian—reframes the narrative to center the lives, relationships, and legacy of Grandison and Mary Goolsby and their descendants. This program invites participants to move beyond headlines and confront how memory, resistance, and truth shape our understanding of the past and its lasting impact on present-day communities.

This free, virtual event is part of our ongoing series honoring African American history through descendant-led storytelling, scholarship, and remembrance.