Nasty Flies, Heart Songs and Critical History

Stacy and I had decided to spend a week on Alligator Point, a beach peninsula south of Tallahassee, Florida. We found a rental cottage a short walk from the beach, and when we arrived, we plopped down in some deck chairs, hoping to enjoy a breeze off the gulf. Only a few minutes had passed when I felt something bite my left hand. I looked down and saw something I’d never seen before — a fly that looked like an ordinary house fly, except bigger and colored a bright, shocking yellow. Its bite drew blood and hurt like hell. And within only an hour, my left hand swelled up like a balloon. I could barely bend my fingers. The swelling didn’t improve overnight, and the next day we had to make a 60-mile round trip to the nearest urgent-care clinic. I came back to the beach with prescribed steroids and a bottle of Benadryl, which luckily saved the rest of our vacation. 

This memory came back and bit me when Alabama writer Jennifer Kornegay proposed to write an essay about yellow flies for Salvation South. They are indeed, as Jennifer writes, “insidious, sneaky bloodsuckers.” If you’ve ever had an encounter with yellow flies — or would like to avoid one — you will love Jennifer’s essay.

This week, we’ve also got a personal essay from Atlanta writer Nelson d. Ross about his heart — both figurative and literal. He’s about to undergo a procedure to correct aortic stenosis, and the prospect of a newly revived ticker has him thinking about all kinds of matters of the heart. Nelson’s touching essay will warm your heart — and don’t miss the accompanying playlist of his favorite “heart songs.”

Finally, Charleston historian Damon L. Fordham brings us the story of Denmark Vesey, a freed slave who attempted to stage a revolt 200 years ago — and got the death penalty for it, even though his planned rebellion never occurred. In all the years since, Vesey’s story has produced widely divergent reactions in both Black and white audiences.

“What accounts for this diversity of views over an individual who was executed 200 years ago, and still causes controversy today?” Damon writes. “The answer reveals much about the racial divide in America, which persists to this day.” His essay is an enlightening read, regardless of whether you’re familiar with Vesey’s story. 

As we’ve said since we launched Salvation South, we want you to come in a stay a while. Every week, we try to welcome you into our house with stories — sometimes serious and sometimes frivolous — that matter to Southerners. Curl up somewhere and read what we’ve got for you this week.