The World's Best Book Summaries
Who was Anna Brown? How was she touched by the Osage murder conspiracy? Anna Brown, a young Osage woman, was the first known victim of the Osage Reign of Terror. Her close family members also fell victim to the evil plot. FBI investigator Tom White connected the murders and ultimately brought the killers to justice. Keep reading to learn about the death of Anna Brown and how it was only one piece of the puzzle.
Are you leading a Killers of the Flower Moon discussion? What questions will spark an engaging and thoughtful conversation? Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI is about the Osage Reign of Terror—a series of organized killings in Osage County, Oklahoma, during the 1920s. The victims were members of the Osage Indian tribe, and the motive was profit. Continue reading to find Killers of the Flower Moon discussion questions that you can use for yourself or in a group.
Who was Mollie Burkhart? What did she have to do with the Osage murders? Mollie Burkhart was an Osage woman who was married to Ernest Burkhart. Burkhart was convicted of the Osage conspiracy, including the murder of Mollie’s sister. Mollie Burkhart suffered immensely during the Reign of Terror, and she narrowly escaped death herself. Continue reading to learn Mollie Burkhart’s story.
What’s witness tampering? How was this tactic used during the Osage murder trials? Witness tampering is an attempt to prevent or influence a witness’s testimony. Often, the goal is to keep the witness from telling the truth, therefore influencing the outcome of the case. Keep reading to learn how witness tampering factored in the Osage murder trials.
Who were the first black women in NASA? What contributions did they make to space travel? Amongst some of the first black women in NASA were Hidden Figures characters Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, and Mary Jackson. Dorothy was one of the first black women in NASA, as she was hired during the war. The other two women joined later. With their many talented colleagues, they proudly worked in their roles, and they helped pave the way forward for other black women.
How did guardianship laws allow people to commit theft? What role did they play in the Osage Reign of Terror? Guardianship laws declared some adult Osage Tribe members incompetent so that “guardians” could control their money. This arrangement ultimately played a role in an unthinkable tragedy. Read more to learn about guardianship laws and the Osage murders.
How were Jim Crow segregation laws felt by the employees of NASA in the pre-Civil Rights era? How did the women of Hidden Figures work to enact change? In Hidden Figures, not even the brilliant mathematicians at NASA were spared from Jim Crow segregation. In the middle of the segregated south, the women of Hidden Figures worked to solve the problems of space exploration, and spent their lives advocating for change both at and outside of NASA.
What was the Friendship 7 mission, and what was its significance? Did the women of Hidden Figures have anything to do with the Friendship 7 launch? Katherine Johnson was a part of the Space Task Force, which was responsible for the Friendship 7 Mission. In fact, John Glenn, Friendship 7 astronaut, personally relied on Katherine’s mathematical skills to ensure his safety. Read more about the Friendship 7 Mission and Katherine Johnson’s contributions.
What’s the history of the forced assimilation of Native Americans? Did it play a role in the Osage murders of the 1920s? Forced assimilation was a system that stripped Native Americans of their lands and culture. The practice contributed to the conspiracy to rob the Osage of their material wealth, and it ultimately led to many murders. Continue reading to learn about the forced assimilation of the Osage people.
What was the Space Task Group? What role did it play in the first manned space missions, and in getting to the moon? The Space Task Group was formed in 1958 and was a working group with the goal of achieving human spaceflight. Singularly focused on its goal, the Space Task Group included many brilliant minds, including Katherine Johnson of Hidden Figures. Keep reading to find out more about the Space Task Group, and Katherine Johnson’s contributions.