The teacher, Mr. Graham, surveyed the classroom of twelve-year-old students, their chattering cut of abruptly as they realized his gaze was on them. Finally he spoke, “Today I want to break you all into groups to do a deep dive of certain topics during the Jim Crow era.”

The class quickly sorted themselves into groups of three or four, excited by the prospect of being able to choose their own topic. One group of all white boys chose to do their presentation on the history and practice of lynching. Each group drew straws to decide who would present, and the group of white boys drew the shortest straw.

When the group went up to the front of the classroom, they began to single out two African American boys, William and Taylor, in the class. William and Taylor were horrified and begged the boys to stop, begging for their teacher to step in. Mr. Graham just stood by, lamely telling them that they were part of the demonstration now and that he would give them an A for the class.

The group of white boys ignored the protests of William and Taylor, grabbing them forcefully, stripping them naked,and tying their hands behind their backs. They looped a rope through the ceiling and then around the boys necks, their eyes bulging with terror.

The group addressed the class, saying how it was common for the public to throw things and beat up people who were going to be lynched and asked the class to participate. As they were about to pull on the rope to hoist the boys into the air, William and Taylor’s virgin penises became fully erect, their fear heightening and knowing that this was the end.

The group of white boys leaned on the rope with all their strength, trying to make sure that the boys died a slow and painful death by strangulation. After a few moments, William and Taylor lay limp, not due to a broken neck but instead from the weight of death upon them. The group then simply walked away, leaving the bodies of William and Taylor hanging from the ceiling with the noose still around their necks. A silence blanketed the room as the other students looked on in shock.

Mr. Graham, hearing the silence, came up to the front of the classroom and said “This presentation was exceptionally well done. I give you all an A for the class”.

The class was numb and looked on as the janitor entered to cut the boys down from the ceiling and take their bodies away.

Once the bodies had been taken away, the class was dismissed with a reminder of the need to keep silent about what they saw.