Cecil Price and Marcus Dupree...Forgiveness and Healing

Watching ESPN's "30 for 30" story of Marcus Dupree, star running back who skated through multiple schools and the NFL. Macus was a force who was often compared to the power of Jim Brown with the speed of Earl Campbell. Massive size. Just watching film of him, you knew he was destined for greatness.
HOWEVER...

...the most fascinating story was...in 1964, Cecil Price was convicted of violations of Civil Rights as a member of the KKK that was involved in the infamous killing of the 3 Civil Rights activists in Mississippi. He was the sheriff at the time who released the workers who were murdered by the KKK. If you remembered in the movie "Mississipi Burning" he is played by Brad Dourif in a sweaty, sleazy wife beater. Price spent four years in prison and upon released still held onto government jobs.

Marcus Dupree played on Price's son's (now integrated) football team. They became friends and Marcus spent time at Price's home. Yes, he had meals and hungout together. Their football team dominated. And instead of the awful history of the Civil Rights activists murder, the town came together to talk about this running back phenom.

Marcus, a sought after running back was recruited by...every college in the nation. He attended Oklahoma and left after a few years to go to Southern Mississippi. Due to NCAA rules, Marcus would have to spend 2 years away from football. Which he elected to play in the USFL. There he was was injured and was sidelined indefinitely. Determined to play again, he conditioned and got a year with the Los Angeles Rams in 1990. He was shortly cut.

At 28 yrs old...Marcus then needed a job. And in the state of Mississippi, a safety license was needed to drive a big rig. And the man running the license bureau...Cecil Price. Marcus contacted his son, his son contacted his dad and within minutes Marcus was cleared to drive a big rig. The son stated his dad "would've done anything for Marcus."

This story is a tiny snippet at the end of Cecil Price's Wikipedia. The liberals often believe in forgiveness. Prisons are full of people they tend to want to forgive, in order to heal. It strikes me as hypocritical that this man's one stupid involvement which obviously haunted him, would be the only thing people would mention. In history, Price seems to have died a Klan member though he helped a destitute former Black athlete as only he could...possibly to right a terrible wrong he knew he created. And who knows what other things he's done that went without mention.

I'm not saying Price's crime doesn't draw him as a monster, but as a monster for life is debatable. I often get misty at stories where people come to terms with their hate and learn that people, are deep down inside...good at the ground level.