Lucius Bowser sheds light on a dark topic.
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"What's
Done in the Dark" was shown at the East Orange Public Library on July 29, 2008 at 7:00 PM. Lucius
Bowser, of the Historical Society, one of the film's
executive producers and who also appeared in the film as
a geneologist and historian, introduced the film.
Mr. Bowser was quick to point
out that there was no connection between the Historical
Society of East Orange and the film, although a large
number of those attending the screening were members of
the Society who are all interested in history. Mr. Bowser
was there representing the film as an Executive Producer
of it.
The film traces the life
journey of Millie L. McGhee from childhood to adulthood,
burdened by the family secret that she was related by
blood to J. Edgar Hoover, and that if that information
ever became public her life and the lives of her family
would be in danger. In fact, Ms. McGhee was able to link
two murders within her family to that secret. She makes a
compelling case for the idea that J. Edgar Hoover was
"passing for white," and was doing everything
in his power to keep it a secret, including falsifying
his own birth records and making threats backed by the
power of his office as the director of the F.B.I.
Although a great deal of her
evidence is based on oral history, Ms. McGhee proves
again and again that much of that oral history is backed
up by facts, even when the documents have obviously been
tampered with and altered. See the film and judge for
yourself.
After the screening, Mr. Bowser
answered questions from the attendees and also announced
that he will be giving a Genealogy Workshop at the
Library in December. You can be sure that we will be
reminding you of his workshop on our Web site.
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