Who was Joe Turner and why would women dread to hear that had been town?

Joe Turner was not a historical figure, but rather a character from the play "The Piano Lesson" by August Wilson. He was a mythical figure in the play's world, representing the brutal reality of forced labor and exploitation faced by African Americans in the post-Civil War South.

Why women dreaded to hear that he had been in town:

* Joe Turner was a notorious slave catcher. He would often kidnap and enslave people, even those who were technically free.

* His presence meant potential separation from loved ones. Women feared that their husbands, brothers, sons, or even themselves could be captured and taken away.

* He symbolized the ongoing threat of violence and injustice. The fear of Joe Turner represented the fear of ongoing oppression and the lack of security for Black people in the South.

In essence, Joe Turner embodied the oppressive and terrifying reality of Jim Crow and the threat of forced labor that Black Americans faced. His presence in town signified a period of fear and uncertainty for the Black community, particularly for the women who lived in fear of losing their loved ones.