THE COLD-BLOODED MURDER OF BOOKER T. SPICELY
During World War II, Butner, NC (a small town roughly 15 miles from downtown Durham, NC) was home to a large encampment of enlisted men. Soldiers stationed there often took the bus into Durham to enjoy the nightlife and entertainment. On July 8, 1944, Private Booker T. Spicely, a Black soldier, was returning to the camp when he boarded a bus in downtown Durham.
Originally from Philadelphia, Spicely was not familiar with the South’s Jim Crow rules as they pertained to segregated seating. After a brief verbal exchange with bus driver Herman Lee Council, Spicely gave up his seat for white passengers. As he exited the rear of the bus, witnesses say he apologized to the driver for any offense he may have caused. Council exited the front of the bus, drew a revolver, and shot Spicely twice in the chest. The driver then reboarded the bus and continued his route, leaving Spicely bleeding on the of the side of the road. Spicely was pronounced dead at Duke Hospital, after being refused care at nearby Watts Hospital based on his race.
Herman Lee Council was later arrested and tried for Spicely’s killing. An all-white jury acquitted him in 28 minutes. Council retained his position as a city bus driver but was given an alternate route.
Over the years, the story faded from public discussion and became largely unknown. In this one-man show, Wiley brings to life Spicely, Council, and a host of other characters to examine the events of that day and the tense days that followed in a town known then and today for its progressive views, visionary Black entrepreneurs, tobacco industry magnates, and institutes of higher learning.
