Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
This is BANNED BOOKS WEEK. Here’s a book, written by Jesse & Frank James’ first cousin Dan James. Like Jesse James, the book was banned in its day. But today, Dan’s book is famous, widely read, and seriously studied in college courses, together with his films. So, too, is Dan James.
Daniel Lewis James was blacklisted, first as a Hollywood screenwriter after co-writing the screen classic The Great Dictator with Charlie Chaplin. Then later, Dan James was banned as a novelist.
The House on Un-American Activities Committee, convened by the U. S. Congress, branded Dan James as a Communist on evidence of hearsay. Dan was driven underground to write B-movies instead, one of them the screen classic Gorgo.
When Daniel Lewis James published his novel Famous All Over Town under the Hispanic pen name of Danny Santiago, the Hispanic literati exposed him. Attempting to ban his book, they brown listed Dan James and Danny Santiago, the fictional author who did not exist.
Today, Dan’s novel is celebrated and taught in college in Hispanic studies classes. The chapter in my book, Jesse James Soul Liberty, about Dan James, titled “All For the Underdog,” has been made into a play, commissioned by the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago. The play was written by the award-winning Hispanic playwright, Carlos Murillo.
There have been various efforts to ban my book, Jesse James Soul Liberty. The Northfield Historical Society will not carry the book in its bookstore. Do they fear the return of the James family to Northfield in book form will steal the fortune they gather each year celebrating Jesse James defeat?
The Kansas City Star has refused to review the book, because, they say, the book’s publisher is not on the newspaper’s list of approved publishers. Do they fear a publisher who isn’t a gatekeeper will slip something new into the book market? Will that new information threaten what they’ve already approved?
A Missouri state representative, when asked about making the book available at James Farm & Museum in Kentucky, has stated, “I couldn’t give a s _ _ t about Jesse James!” Many of Missouri’s politicians today would simply like to be rid of the name and its association. They think that banning a book about the Jesse James family will erase the outlaw’s sad history. They believe that restricting what people read, and banning what they think people should not read, will guarantee proper social behavior.
I wish them all every success for banning my book, as well as others. Banishment certainly will ensure my book will be around for generations to come. History has proved, authors of banned books tend to become very successful, and their books become widely read. As my book shows, among the James family being banned or persecuted is evidence of significant accomplishment.
As much as books are banned by those of lesser intelligence, banned books are celebrated by those of higher intelligence. After all, isn’t that how one gains higher intelligence? By reading books? By reading all kinds of books? You will know a person’s level of intelligence by the number of banned books they read.
After 10 years, our webpage for the Flat Lick Baptist Church & its founder John M. James has been updated. New additions include a video about the rebel preachers and their Traveling Church, the "talented, but erratic" pastor Joe Martin James, photos of the 100th & 200th anniversaries, slaves in the congregation, collapsing stone walls, Flat Lick on YouTube today – all waiting for a new pastor to take the reins in the 21st century. ericjames.org/wordpress/2011/05/13/flat-lick-baptist-church/
Flat Lick Baptist Church Founded by John M. James
ericjames.org
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes John M. James, the grandfather of Frank & Jesse James, arrived on the Kentucky frontier in 1782 in the company ofFor Drury Woodson James, founder of Paso Robles, CA., and all his descendants, PASO ROBLES FOUNDERS’ DAY 2021.
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it’s usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it’s been deleted.
BREAKING NEWS . . . This news was announced in Texas today. The surprising retirement occurs just as the court case she brought against Stray Leaves and publisher Eric F. James goes to the Texas Court of Appeals.
www.wsaw.com/2021/09/27/worlds-most-successful-forensic-artist-retiring-after-nearly-40-years-job/
World’s most successful forensic artist retiring after nearly 40 years on the job
www.wsaw.com
For a short period of time she listens, asks questions and takes on a crime victim’s pain to create an image police can give out to the public to generate leads.Can you share any info about the lawsuits? A link?
Our good friend & author William "Bill" Penn in Midway, Ky. has been looking at 14 boxes of historical documents, related to Henry Lewis Martin Sr. 1848-1938. Martin is a 2nd cousin of Frank & Jesse James and certainly was personally known by the boy’s Cole family relatives in Midway and Woodford County, Ky. Martin also fought under John Hunt Morgan.
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it’s usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it’s been deleted.How interesting! It’s been fun to learn more about this family and I can’t wait to know more. Jesse Martin was my Grandmother Paulina’s brother.