Paper Apologizes for '40 Acres, Mule' Tweet

(The Root) โ€” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is learning that social media and slavery tweets don't mix. Suggested Reading The Root 100 – 2024’s Most Influential African Americans Post #3 6-18-2025 Post #2 6-18-2025 Video will return here when scrolled back into view Stefon Diggs and Cardi B Viral Boat Video Prompts Response from Patriots Coach…

(The Root) โ€” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is learning that social media and slavery tweets don't mix.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Stefon Diggs and Cardi B Viral Boat Video Prompts Response from Patriots Coach
Stefon Diggs and Cardi B Viral Boat Video Prompts Response from Patriots Coach

An Atlanta man named Willie Lynch recently was the winner of the $1 million Georgia lottery. Historically, "Willie Lynch" is believed to have been the name of a slave owner who gave a speech on how to control slaves on a plantation. The speech was later crafted into a letter โ€” which some historians think is a hoax โ€” that has made its rounds on the Internet.

What isn't a hoax is that someone at the newspaper made the connection between Willie Lynch, the lottery winner, and the other Willie Lynch and decided to tweet, "$1M GA Lottery winner Willie Lynch can get 40 acres and a whole lotta mules." The tweet has since been deleted and an apology has been issued.

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