About the book
Junius Wilson (1908–2001) spent seventy-six years at a state mental hospital in Goldsboro, North Carolina, including six in the criminal ward. He had never been declared insane by a medical professional or found guilty of any criminal charge. But he was deaf and black in the Jim Crow South. Unspeakable is the story of his life.
Using legal records, institutional files, and extensive oral history interviews — some conducted in sign language — Susan Burch and Hannah Joyner piece together the story of a deaf man accused in 1925 of attempted rape, found insane at a lunacy hearing, committed to the criminal ward of the State Hospital for the Colored Insane, castrated, forced to labor for the institution, and held at the hospital for more than seven decades. Junius Wilson’s life was shaped by some of the major developments of twentieth-century America: Jim Crow segregation, the civil rights movement, deinstitutionalization, the rise of professional social work, and the emergence of the deaf and disability rights movements. In addition to offering a bottom-up history of life in a segregated mental institution, Burch and Joyner’s work also enriches the traditional interpretation of Jim Crow by highlighting the complicated intersections of race and disability as well as of community and language.
This moving study expands the boundaries of what biography can and should be. There is much to learn and remember about Junius Wilson — and the countless others who have lived unspeakable histories.
Editions of Unspeakable
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807831557
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469626383
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890881090
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807884348
Read an Excerpt
Junius Wilson (1908–2001) spent seventy-six years at a state mental hospital in Goldsboro, North Carolina, including six in the criminal ward. He had never been declared insane by a medical professional or found guilty of any criminal charge. But he was deaf and black in the Jim Crow South. Unspeakable is the story of his life.
Using legal records, institutional files, and extensive oral history interviews — some conducted in sign language — Susan Burch and Hannah Joyner piece together the story of a deaf man accused in 1925 of attempted rape, found insane at a lunacy hearing, committed to the criminal ward of the State Hospital for the Colored Insane, castrated, forced to labor for the institution, and held at the hospital for more than seven decades. Junius Wilson’s life was shaped by some of the major developments of twentieth-century America: Jim Crow segregation, the civil rights movement, deinstitutionalization, the rise of professional social work, and the emergence of the deaf and disability rights movements. In addition to offering a bottom-up history of life in a segregated mental institution, Burch and Joyner’s work also enriches the traditional interpretation of Jim Crow by highlighting the complicated intersections of race and disability as well as of community and language.
This moving study expands the boundaries of what biography can and should be. There is much to learn and remember about Junius Wilson — and the countless others who have lived unspeakable histories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Unspeakable about?
Junius Wilson (1908–2001) spent seventy-six years at a state mental hospital in Goldsboro, North Carolina, including six in the criminal ward. He had never been declared insane by a medical professional or found guilty of any criminal charge. But he was deaf and black in the Jim Crow South. Unspeakable is the story of his life.
Using legal records, institutional files, and extensive oral history interviews — some conducted in sign language — Susan Burch and Hannah Joyner piece together the story of a deaf man accused in 1925 of attempted rape, found insane at a lunacy hearing, committed to the criminal ward of the State Hospital for the Colored Insane, castrated, forced to labor for the institution, and held at the hospital for more than seven decades. Junius Wilson’s life was shaped by some of the major developments of twentieth-century America: Jim Crow segregation, the civil rights movement, deinstitutionalization, the rise of professional social work, and the emergence of the deaf and disability rights movements. In addition to offering a bottom-up history of life in a segregated mental institution, Burch and Joyner’s work also enriches the traditional interpretation of Jim Crow by highlighting the complicated intersections of race and disability as well as of community and language.
This moving study expands the boundaries of what biography can and should be. There is much to learn and remember about Junius Wilson — and the countless others who have lived unspeakable histories.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Unspeakable?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general
Where can I read a sample of Unspeakable?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807831557
How long is Unspeakable and how many pages does it have?
Unspeakable has 320 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Unspeakable?
Hannah Joyner, Susan Burch
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Unspeakable is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807831557) and paperback(ISBN 9781469626383) and ebook(ISBN 9798890881090) and ebook(ISBN 9780807884348)
Where can I buy Unspeakable online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Unspeakable from below
Where can I buy Unspeakable?