Tomlinson is a famous name in san diego, thanks to the familys most noted member, former chargers running back ladainian tomlinson. From the beginning in 1854 when the first tomlinson, a white woman, arrived to 2007, when the last tomlinson, ladainians father, left, the book unflinchingly explores the history of race and bigotry in texas. Ladainians father was the last tomlinson living on the hill when he died in 2007. The remarkable story of two families who share the tomlinson name. The remarkable story of two families who share the tomlinson name one white, one black. Tomlinson hill tells the story of two families, one black and one white, who trace their ancestry to the same central texas slave plantation. Its the same in texas, but these days another who bears the. The remarkable story of two families who share the tomlinson name one white, one black tomlinson, chris, drummond, david on. The plantation was owned by chris greatgreatgrandparents, while ladainian descended from a slave owned by chris ancestors. In his new book, tomlinson hill, the austin journalist and former ap correspondent in africa. Tomlinson wrote the foreword for chris tomlinsons book, tomlinson hill, which traces the story of two familiesone white and one blackfrom a plantation in tomlinson hill, texas. But tomlinson hill is an important book for anyone who wants to know what really happened in slavery days in texas.
The friends provides support and resources for houston public library programs. Instead, the author presents a scholarly book on the history of slavery. Posted on august 15, 2017 journalist chris tomlinsons ancestors used to own slaves. Tomlinson hill is a documentary about race in america as seen through the eyes of two descendants of a former texas slave plantation. Chris tomlinson began to research the five generations of his texas family. The most famous and successful descendant from tomlinson hill.
Tomlinson hill and millions of other books are available for instant access. Then the greatgreatgrandson of texas slaveholders realized he needed to write a book about his familys history. Ladainian tomlinsons brutal history san diego reader. Excerpt from chris tomlinsons book, tomlinson hill. The school at tomlinson hill had fiftyone students in 1933. A new york times best seller tomlinson hill is the stunning story of two families. From the beginning in 1854 when the first tomlinson, a white woman, arrivedto 2007, when the last tomlinson, ladainians father, left, the book unflinchingly explores the history of race and bigotry in texas. Its about the ancestors in his family who were slave owners in texas and its also about the family tree of the people who has been his ancestors slaves. Tomlinson hill a film and interactive website as well as a book is the result of that belief, a dual history of the white and black tomlinsons and the rural town they settled and in. Designed for established book clubs or any museumgoer looking for a great read, the bullock book club is a resource for groups and individuals alike.
Thank you to everyone who preordered the book and made sure we. Tomlinson discovers that his counterpart in the african american family is ladainian tomlinson, one of the greatest running backs in the history of the national football league. Chris tomlinson covers almost two centuries of texas and human history in. And the book is called tomlinson hill and tomlinson hill is where the family plantation was. From the 2014 texas book festival in austin, maria venegas, author of bulletproof vest, and chris tomlinson, author of tomlinson hill, talk about their books. As a child growing up in dallas, chris tomlinson was proud to be a fifthgeneration texan. Columnist and author chris tomlinson discusses his book tomlinson hill, about his familys slaveowning history in tomlinson hill, texas, and how. He also was proud of his southern heritage, having learned in elementary school that the souths cause was lawful and noble.
Tomlinson hill tells the story of these two families. Tomlinson hill, on state highway 320 six miles northeast of lott in central falls county, was named for the james k. Tomlinson hill is the stunning story of two familiesone white, one. Theres a world of new ideas in every books newsletter. On tomlinson hill, journalist seeks truth and reconciliation. Chris tomlinson, the descendant of a prominent pioneering family of texas, is doing just that. Chris tomlinson digs up a discomfiting past in tomlinson hill the. Individuals, groups, and organizations interested in collaborating with hpl by offering a public program, e. Tomlinson hill by chris tomlinson the boston globe. Tomlinson tackles all of these, and more, and tries to.
From the beginning in 1854when the first tomlinson, a white woman, arrivedto 2007, when the last tomlinson, ladainians father, left, the book unflinchingly explores the history of race and bigotry in texas. Interview with chris tomlinson to pick cotton, you have to stick your fingers into the boll, trying not to scrape your cuticles on the sharp, driedout shell around the linty white ball, writes chris tomlinson in the first paragraph of tomlinson hill the year is 2012. Tomlinson hill is a book, film and interactive project that tells the story of race relations in america through a small community in central texas and two tomlinson families, one white and one black, who trace their ancestry to a slave plantation called tomlinson hill. Tomlinson hill is an honest look at slavery in texas. Tomlinson hill a film and interactive website as well as a book is the result of that belief, a dual history of the white and black tomlinsons and the rural town they settled and in a few cases still inhabit today. To a white boy growing up in the midst of civil rights turmoil in dallas, this was a staggering revelation, tomlinson writes in tomlinson hill, the name of his new book and an awardwinning film. The book begins with the arrival of the first white tomlinson, a woman married to one of texas wealthiest men. After all, a small part of texas was named after his ancestors. Lets take a short break and then well talk some more. Tomlinson hill is not a book about the civil war, but in. Tomlinson hill, tx the handbook of texas online texas. Tomlinson hill tells the parallel stories of two tomlinson families.
Tomlinson hill is a small unincorporated community in falls county, texas, united states. As a small piece of the grand puzzle of race relations and the sentimental weight of ancestry and place, tomlinson hill is a stunning tribute to the importance of understanding the past even as we seek a brighter future. Foreign correspondent chris tomlinson returns to texas to discover the truth about his familys slave owning history. Chris tomlinson covered conflict, including apartheid in africa, for 11 years. Texas was a slave state, and it seceded from the united states and joined the confederacy, not to preserve states rights, but to preserve slavery.
The bullock book club bullock texas state history museum. Austin writer explores painful family past in tomlinson hill. Tomlinson family, who moved to the area in the late 1850s. The remarkable story of two families who share the tomlinson name one white, one black by chris. Chris tomlinson, the houston chronicles business columnist, explores the legacy of his familys slaveholding history in tomlinson hill. In his book, tomlinson hill, he reconnects with the descendants of those slaves. Tomlinson hill is a small town community in falls county. Chris tomlinson spent most of his life comfortable that he knew who he was and where he came from. Texas was a slave state, and it seceded from the united states and joined the confederacy, not to. Its a place where generations of his family carved out a comfortable living from the land. Internationally recognized for his work as a fearless war correspondent, awardwinning journalist chris tomlinson grew up hearing stories about his familys abandoned cotton plantation in falls county, texas. Chris tomlinson digs up a discomfiting past in tomlinson hill.
Tomlinson hill central texas digital consortium overdrive. The bullock book club reccomends the following works of fiction and nonfiction that provide connections to museum exhibitions and programs. Midway through chris tomlinsons multifaceted, tragic, and extraordinary book, tomlinson hill, the former associated press war correspondent retells a. The most famous and successful descendant from tomlinson hill is former professional football player ladainian tomlinson, a direct. Tomlinson hill is an important book, by a texas author that documents a historical truth some contemporary texans find inconvenient. Tomlinson hill is the stunning story of two familiesone white, one blackwho trace their roots to a slave plantation that bears their name.
The reunion grounds are located at tomlinson hill on 18 acres between lott and marlin west of the brazos river. Tomlinson hill is a noble, sprawling, partially flawed book with a central connection to civil warera texas, but it is much more than a civil war. The grounds are home to the association and are used to host community events and are available for the public to rent for the day or overnight camping. A masterpiece of authentic american history, tomlinson hill traces the true and very revealing story of these two families. After spending 11 years in africa as the nairobi bureau chief for the associated press, i returned home to learn the truth about my family, the black tomlinsons and texas history after the civil war. On tomlinson hill, journalist seeks truth and reconciliation chris tomlinson covered conflict, including apartheid in africa, for 11 years.