Killers of the Dream
Book by Lillian Smith
19
MENTIONS
6
EPISODES
6
PODCASTS
Search complete. 19 mentions across 6 episodes found for "Killers of the Dream".
Oct 22, 2026
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I mean, it permeates everything.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
And so her second book, Killers of the Dream, which she published in 1949, really was about racism and white supremacy.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
And this is where she really gets into this issue about Black nurses raising white children.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
And she honestly...
38 MINS LATER
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
But I think at the time, it's not even a question of like, really, was she a communist? They're just using the word communist as anybody who's sympathizing with and or working towards civil rights in any kind of way.
C. Derick VarnHOST
Mm hmm.
C. Derick VarnHOST
Which I guess also brings me to the nonfiction book, which I also didn't know and felt really dumb for not knowing about, which is Killers of the Dream.
C. Derick VarnHOST
I was surprised that someone like spelled this out in 1949.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
Yeah.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And, and I didn't mention this earlier, but I started reading Killers of the Dream a couple of days ago, and I've read the first essay where she s- she tells the story in her own words.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And so, uh, your, your book was a great introduction and, of course, you know, she goes into a little bit more detail in the, in, in her, in her work.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And so that scene that she draws where she's telling Julie, you know, and sh- Julie's saying, "Why do I have to go?" And, you know, there's a back and forth about, um...
11 MINS LATER
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I really think she's fantastic at nonfiction.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I think that's where she really thrives.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I love Killers of the Dream, which is, um, published in 1949, and it, um, it actually continues on a lot of themes and even picks up some of the writing that she did for South Today Magazine.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
And some of those articles, you know, sold hundreds of thousands of copies throughout.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
Yeah.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And, and I didn't mention this earlier, but I started reading Killers of the Dream a couple of days ago, and I've read the first essay where she s- she tells the story in her own words.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And so, uh, your, your book was a great introduction and of course, you know, she goes into a little bit more detail in the, in, in her, in her work.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And so that scene that she draws where she's telling Julie, you know, and sh- Julie's saying, "Why do I have to go?" And, you know, there's a back and forth about, um, there was a back and forth with the mother first, and then her telling Julie she can't stay here.
11 MINS LATER
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I really think she's fantastic at nonfiction.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I think that's where she really thrives.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I love Killers of the Dream, which is, um, published in 1949, and it, um, it actually continues on a lot of themes and even picks up some of the writing that she did for South Today Magazine.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
And some of those articles, you know, sold hundreds of thousands of copies throughout.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
Yeah.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And, and I didn't mention this earlier, but I started reading Killers of the Dream a couple of days ago, and I've read the first essay where she s- she tells the story in her own words.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And so, uh, your, your book was a great introduction and of course, you know, she goes into a little bit more detail in the, in, in her, in her work.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And so that scene that she draws where she's telling Julie, you know, and sh- Julie's saying, "Why do I have to go?" And, you know, there's a back and forth about, um, there was a back and forth with the mother first, and then her telling Julie she can't stay here.
12 MINS LATER
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I really think she's fantastic at nonfiction.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I think that's where she really thrives.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I love Killers of the Dream, which was, um, published in 1949, and it, um, it actually continues on a lot of themes and even picks up some of the writing that she did for South Today magazine.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
And some of those articles, you know, sold hundreds of thousands of copies throughout.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
Yeah.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And, and I didn't mention this earlier, but I started reading Killers of the Dream a couple of days ago, and I've read the first essay where she s- she tells the story in her own words.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And so, uh, your, your book was a great introduction.
Raymond WilliamsHOST
And of course, you know, she goes into a little bit more detail in the, in, in her, in her work.
11 MINS LATER
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I really think she's fantastic at nonfiction.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I think that's where she really thrives.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
I love Killers of the Dream, which is, um, published in 1949, and it, um, it actually continues on a lot of themes and even picks up some of the writing that she did for South Today magazine.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
And some of those articles, you know, sold hundreds of thousands of copies throughout.
Evan AxelbankHOST
One of them is called Strange Fruit.
Evan AxelbankHOST
Another one is called Killers of the Dream.
Evan AxelbankHOST
Explain the story that Strange Fruit tells in a novel.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
The Strange Fruit is published in 1944.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
She shows up to the Broadway play, stage play of Strange Fruit as well to help promote it.
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
And they remain friends for life.
Evan AxelbankHOST
How was her writing, particularly with Killers of the Dream colliding, which is published a few years later, colliding with the fight against segregation in 1949?
Keri Leigh MerrittGUEST
Right.