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Confronting my racist past

Although Mac Otts’ great great grandfather had run a plantation in Alabama, Mac ended up turning his back on the generations of racism in his family, and adopted a mixed race child

S. McEachin Otts - known as Mac - grew up in Greensboro, Alabama. His great great grandfather had slaves and a plantation there, but as Mac grew up he began to go against the racism he was used to and he adopted a mixed race child. Mac has written a book about his life called Better than them: The Unmaking of an Alabama Racist, published by NewSouth Books, Montgomery, Alabama.

In 2003, a band of expert criminals had masterminded the biggest and boldest jewel heist in history, but Belgian diamond detective Patrick Peys was on their trail. A strange assortment of clues, including a carpet and a salami sandwich, led to a mysterious criminal mastermind and a school for felons. Emily Webb has the story.

(Image: Mac Otts. Photo courtesy of Mac Otts.)

Available now

53 minutes

Last on

Tue 12 Mar 201904:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 11 Mar 201912:06GMT
  • Mon 11 Mar 201916:06GMT
  • Mon 11 Mar 201918:06GMT
  • Mon 11 Mar 201921:06GMT
  • Mon 11 Mar 201923:06GMT
  • Tue 12 Mar 201904:06GMT

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