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The Life and Agonizing Death of Maceo Snipes
He Lay Dying, Untreated, Because the Hospital Didn’t Have “Black Blood”
Maceo Snipes was born in March of 1909. One source claims he was born on March 28th in Hancock County, while another states he was born on March 25th in Taylor County, GA. This story isn’t about the circumstances of his birth but about his death in 1946. Maceo did grow up in Taylor County, where his parents owned a 202-acre farm.
The present-day official website makes Taylor County sound idyllic.
“Our unique pocket of Georgia provides easy access to the amenities of larger cities within a serene and secure setting. Taylor County is perfect for raising a family, starting a business, and engaging with nature.
Midway between Macon and Columbus, Taylor County and the cities of Butler and Reynolds comprise a supportive, welcoming community centered around small-town living.”
Taylor County is also widely known for its history of racism and Jim Crow era subjugation of its Black population, continuing long into the 20th century. I’ve driven through Butler, the County seat, without stopping. Nothing about that experience caused me to form an opinion either way, but I didn’t pass through in 1946.
