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Topic: The Murder of Madam Bessie Jones in Carlisle

October 19, 2022

This October marks the 50th anniversary of the murder of Bessie Jones, who ran a brothel in Carlisle in the mid-20th century.

J. M. West, Author, Madame Bessie Jones
Carmen James, Cumberland County Historical Society
Pat LaMarche, Charles Bruce Foundation
Ron Turo, Cumberland County


This October marks the 50th anniversary of the murder of Bessie Jones, who ran a brothel in Carlisle in the mid-20th century. The murder remains unsolved, but Jones’s story is remarkable—she was a black entrepreneur whose clients were exclusively white men. West will provide an overview of Jones’s life and the made-for-television legal case associated with her death. The panel will discuss the complex racial, gender, and sexuality issues that the case brings to light.

This event is sponsored by the Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues and co-sponsored by the Department of Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies.

For more information visit: https://www.clarkeforum.org/wednesday-october-19-2022/

 

Further information

  • Location:
  • Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Calendar Icon
  • Cost: Free