AP+2016+The+Scottsboro+Trials

Ariel Solis

Aim: The Scottsboro Trials were a tool of oppression by the state courts that convicted nine black boys of raping two white girls. A website dedicated to the case states, “ No crime in American history-- let alone a crime that never occurred-- produced as many trials, convictions, reversals, and retrials as did an alleged gang rape of two white girls by nine black teenagers on a Southern Railroad freight run on March 25, 193” (Linder). The crime was especially controversial because of the astounding lack of evidence and cross-examinations by lawyers, particularly of the doctors that examined the two girls that were reportedly raped. After their first trial was overturned, they needed to be retried; they were put in a jail “unfit for whites”, with one of their jailmates being tortured in electric chair before being killed. The trials ended with several of the boys being convicted with life jail sentences or death sentences, despite one of the girls coming forward to state that no rape had occurred at all; this case showed that despite there being no evidence to support that any kind of crime happened to condemn the Scottsboro boys, it showed that systematic oppression of Jim Crow laws and black codes still remained to inhibit blacks from becoming a significant part of society.

Audience: The Scottsboro Trials showed just how biased a state court could be when prosecuting a minority. As quoted from one of the original Scottsboro boys, “The courtroom was one big smiling face,” (Patterson, Haywood). It can be drawn that there was a predominantly white audience there for the execution of the accused despite the lack of evidence. The audience for the trials would most likely be equality activists and future lawyers. The trials could be looked back upon to show how little equality was evident in cases where it was white versus a minority, where the word of the minority was taken for granted and not seriously against the accuser. The case could also be used as a stare decisis for similar cases in the future regarding racial bias and how to proceed further.

Historical: The Scottsboro Trials took place in the 1930s and revealed the horrible treatment of blacks more than any other event that happened. In response to the verdict, “ the American [|Communist]  Party (CP), in this period at the height of its organizing focus in the American South against racism and economic exploitation, immediately took the case on, and largely through activist efforts, sparked a mass defense movement,”(Kindig, Jessie). The announcement presented on the verdict brought uproars in the North from those against discrimination and a lynch mob that originated and gathered after hearing the reason for the prosecutions. The case raised tensions between the North and South further. In response to the case, the residents of Scottsboro acknowledged the wrong that took place and a historical marker was constructed in remembrance.

Cultural: The Scottsboro Trials brought forth the issue with discrimination and with it ideas about equality grew. In one example, a historical marker built was made with the idea to, “bring the races closer together, to understand each other,” (Acker, James). The idea that people were treated poorer based on their skin color became a larger issue after the case. The trials were so influential that the story behind them is prevalent in various cultural aspects today. It appears in literature where it relays various viewpoints from the case to help better understand the people involved. In some cases it also brought with the end of the case a warning to others to take care. This can be seen in Lead Belly’s song “The Scottsboro Boys” where he says to exercise caution to not be in the wrong place at the wrong time in the chance that one might befall the same dates at the Scottsboro Boys.

Works Cited Acker, James R. "Scottsboro and Its Legacy: The Cases That Challenged American Legal and Social Justice." Praeger. New York, 2007. Web. 06 Jan. 2016. Kindig, Jessie. "Scottsboro Boys, Trial and Defense Campaign." University of Washington, N.D.Web. 06 Jan. 2016. Linder, Douglas O. "The Trials of “The Scottsboro Boys”." Famous American Trials, 1999. Web. 06 Jan. 2016. Wormser, Richard. “The Scottsboro Case (1931).” Educational Broadcasting Corporation. PBS, 2002. Web. 06 Jan. 2016.