Ripples of Racism: Scottsboro Boys
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Genarlow Wilson's case sits before Georgia's Supreme Court. Check out the latest on CNN.com or your favorite news station.
Are there racist undertones to his case? How could there not be? Racism is not something one generation conquers for once and all.
Ideas--right or wrong--die very slow deaths.
When a rock falls into a pond, it makes a big splash and sends out ripples that get smaller and smaller. I wonder if the 70-year-old cases of the "Scottsboro Boys" still generates little waves in our national conscience.
That case bounced through the state courts of Alabama and eventually the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1930s, touching raw nerves for years.
The "Scottsboro Boys" were nine African American teens arrested for rape in 1931, on the words of two twenty-something women who were white. Lives were ruined, even thought one girl recanted and no evidence ever supported the charges. One of the defendants was only twelve, another thirteen, but they were convicted along with the others.
Here's the story: In 1931, the Depression forced many kids from home, where their families couldn't feed them. Young kids dropped out of school to hop freight trains going to big cities, looking for work. A gang of black males jumped on a train to Memphis, along with at least two white males, also looking for jobs. A stone-throwing fight between the races started as the train crossed into Alabama.
The whites called authorities, and an armed posse stormed the train at the next stop. They caught nine black teens and tied them up on a flatbed train. Two white women claimed they were raped by a dozen armed, black teens and one woman identified six of the tied-up kids. The Alabama authorities figured that the remaining three must have raped the other girl, and that three rapists got away. No one questioned the girls' words-except one of the accused, who was struck by a bayonet when he called her a liar.
The nine were shipped to Scottsboro. Hundreds gathered around the Scottsboro jail for a lynching, but the National Guard was called out to prevent such a crime. Instead, the nine went on trial together, twelve days later, represented by two inexperienced and sometimes drunken lawyers. All jurors were white men, of course.
Three of the defendants were so badly brutalized that they confessed to the rape, and that was enough to convict and hand down death penalties. The Alabama Supreme Court upheld the convictions, with the exception of the youngest defendant, who was twelve at the time of the crime. He, the court said, should not have been tried as an adult. (That defendant was not released from jail till 1937--by then he was eighteen.)
The U. S. Supreme Court got the case, and ordered a new trial because of the clear incompetence of their apointed lawyers. The defendants would be tried one at a time.
New trials started in 1933, and a New York defense attorney ripped the accusations to ribbons in his cross-examinations. One of the women admitted there was no rape. Holes in the stories were exposed. The result? Two more death sentences. The Alabama jurors were not going to be fooled by slick New York attorneys and evidence, no sir!
The US Supreme Court threw out the trials and the state of Alabama ordered new ones. The cases dragged on. In 1937, the death sentences had become 75-year prison terms, and charges against four defendants were dropped. They'd already spent six years in prison, though.
The trials show us how racism and stubbornness can deny justice to the innocent. The evidence, the truth, even the US Supreme Court, could not get these men freed. Nothing could give them back their lives. The story of the Scottsboro defendants is as ugly as it gets, but it's a part of America. We can't ignore the bad stuff; that's where we learn the most.
Our disgust at the treatment of the Scottsboro defendants doesn't mean we can't make the same mistakes in 2007 or 2008. Hindsight doesn't guarantee that Genarlow Wilsom will be treated fairly or get his life back.
The Scottsboro case DOES show us how laws and the courts can be perverted to support institutionalized racism and class hatred.
An excellent summary of the long case, including links to testimony, court transcripts, and pictures, is online here, presented by the University of Missouri, Kansas City, School of Law:
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What ever happened to Judge Joe Brown.
I suspect Judge Joe Brown wasn't born yet! thank you for your comments--
man that really sucks on what happened to to guys. that makes it a shame to say white power cause there is still people out there that act like that and it just down right discusts me!!!!!!!!!
Man thoes 2 girls really pissed me off, parden my language but they didnt even know thoes guys and they just wanted to use them to settle their own guilt because they had no one else to blame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is pretty sad.......
Great hub, Vickey. I grew up hearing the story of the Scottsboro Boys and the travesty that embarassingly occurred in my own state of birth. You've done a great job. Thanks.
any one know where they lived in georgia and the address and is it in a museum?
I believe both of you share the same facts, but yet different opinions. In my honest view, the trials needed more factual information. I believe that all of you did great with your views. Good job guys!
I lived for 18 months near Scottsboro, AL, in 2006/07. My Amer. history-fascinated daughter was horrified that I would be living in this part of the USA! She knew about this case and couldn't imagine what "sort" of caucasians could live there today. Knowledge of this case did make me a bit nervous, I admit, about finding myself in Alabama. And during my months there I saw a lot I'd never noticed during my years in Calif. (where I am again!). Odd how differently "evolved" people are in different sections of our country.
Great article, i'm doing a presentation on this case and how it could have influenced the book 'to kill a mockingbird', most websites went into too much detail for a five minute presentation! it' a tragedy what these guys had to go through
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i lulz atchu for tryin
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The nine defendents, who were between 12 and 19 years old.
Genarlow Wilson's case sits before Georgia's Supreme Court. Check out the latest on CNN.com or your favorite news station.
Are there racist undertones to his case? How could there not be? Racism is not something one generation conquers for once and all.
Ideas--right or wrong--die very slow deaths.
When a rock falls into a pond, it makes a big splash and sends out ripples that get smaller and smaller. I wonder if the 70-year-old cases of the "Scottsboro Boys" still generates little waves in our national conscience.
That case bounced through the state courts of Alabama and eventually the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1930s, touching raw nerves for years.
The "Scottsboro Boys" were nine African American teens arrested for rape in 1931, on the words of two twenty-something women who were white. Lives were ruined, even thought one girl recanted and no evidence ever supported the charges. One of the defendants was only twelve, another thirteen, but they were convicted along with the others.
Here's the story: In 1931, the Depression forced many kids from home, where their families couldn't feed them. Young kids dropped out of school to hop freight trains going to big cities, looking for work. A gang of black males jumped on a train to Memphis, along with at least two white males, also looking for jobs. A stone-throwing fight between the races started as the train crossed into Alabama.
The whites called authorities, and an armed posse stormed the train at the next stop. They caught nine black teens and tied them up on a flatbed train. Two white women claimed they were raped by a dozen armed, black teens and one woman identified six of the tied-up kids. The Alabama authorities figured that the remaining three must have raped the other girl, and that three rapists got away. No one questioned the girls' words-except one of the accused, who was struck by a bayonet when he called her a liar.
The nine were shipped to Scottsboro. Hundreds gathered around the Scottsboro jail for a lynching, but the National Guard was called out to prevent such a crime. Instead, the nine went on trial together, twelve days later, represented by two inexperienced and sometimes drunken lawyers. All jurors were white men, of course.
Three of the defendants were so badly brutalized that they confessed to the rape, and that was enough to convict and hand down death penalties. The Alabama Supreme Court upheld the convictions, with the exception of the youngest defendant, who was twelve at the time of the crime. He, the court said, should not have been tried as an adult. (That defendant was not released from jail till 1937--by then he was eighteen.)
The U. S. Supreme Court got the case, and ordered a new trial because of the clear incompetence of their apointed lawyers. The defendants would be tried one at a time.
New trials started in 1933, and a New York defense attorney ripped the accusations to ribbons in his cross-examinations. One of the women admitted there was no rape. Holes in the stories were exposed. The result? Two more death sentences. The Alabama jurors were not going to be fooled by slick New York attorneys and evidence, no sir!
October 20, 1934 newspaper. Oddly, while the NAACP stayed away from the case for the first few years, the Communist Party took up the cause and provided funds for defense.
The US Supreme Court threw out the trials and the state of Alabama ordered new ones. The cases dragged on. In 1937, the death sentences had become 75-year prison terms, and charges against four defendants were dropped. They'd already spent six years in prison, though.
The trials show us how racism and stubbornness can deny justice to the innocent. The evidence, the truth, even the US Supreme Court, could not get these men freed. Nothing could give them back their lives. The story of the Scottsboro defendants is as ugly as it gets, but it's a part of America. We can't ignore the bad stuff; that's where we learn the most.
Our disgust at the treatment of the Scottsboro defendants doesn't mean we can't make the same mistakes in 2007 or 2008. Hindsight doesn't guarantee that Genarlow Wilsom will be treated fairly or get his life back.
The Scottsboro case DOES show us how laws and the courts can be perverted to support institutionalized racism and class hatred.
An excellent summary of the long case, including links to testimony, court transcripts, and pictures, is online here, presented by the University of Missouri, Kansas City, School of Law:
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joe john says:
2 years ago
that is cruel and unusual punishment
Caroline Mable says:
2 years ago
What ever happened to Judge Joe Brown.
VickeyK says:
2 years ago
I suspect Judge Joe Brown wasn't born yet! thank you for your comments--
dccd says:
2 years ago
man that really sucks on what happened to to guys. that makes it a shame to say white power cause there is still people out there that act like that and it just down right discusts me!!!!!!!!!
Man thoes 2 girls really pissed me off, parden my language but they didnt even know thoes guys and they just wanted to use them to settle their own guilt because they had no one else to blame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is pretty sad.......
wajay_47 says:
2 years ago
Great hub, Vickey. I grew up hearing the story of the Scottsboro Boys and the travesty that embarassingly occurred in my own state of birth. You've done a great job. Thanks.
josh says:
2 years ago
any one know where they lived in georgia and the address and is it in a museum?
Saucy Monky 16 says:
2 years ago
I believe both of you share the same facts, but yet different opinions. In my honest view, the trials needed more factual information. I believe that all of you did great with your views. Good job guys!
desert blondie says:
18 months ago
I lived for 18 months near Scottsboro, AL, in 2006/07. My Amer. history-fascinated daughter was horrified that I would be living in this part of the USA! She knew about this case and couldn't imagine what "sort" of caucasians could live there today. Knowledge of this case did make me a bit nervous, I admit, about finding myself in Alabama. And during my months there I saw a lot I'd never noticed during my years in Calif. (where I am again!). Odd how differently "evolved" people are in different sections of our country.
Alison says:
7 months ago
Great article, i'm doing a presentation on this case and how it could have influenced the book 'to kill a mockingbird', most websites went into too much detail for a five minute presentation! it' a tragedy what these guys had to go through
Tad says:
6 months ago
Fair
Georgey says:
1 minute ago
i lulz atchu for tryin
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Nigger says:
1 minute ago
Nigger.
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1 second ago
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Welcome Home Stew!
by William F. TorpeyAn Eye For An Eye, A Tooth For A Tooth
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by JTTMyra Bradwell & The Chicago Legal News
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you want to know wht pisses me off. they listened to the WHITE's and not give the blacks a chance at all. As soon as the WHITEs want to scream rape they run to them and lock up the blacks... funny thing is now white people love black men now and obviously cant get enough of there love but back then they scream rape. if i were black man i would watch out for them WHITE girls!! I just offidents me! those boys were inoccent!
hello im gay....
hit me up my number is 503.987.1152
this is disgusting, it really is. and it's replusive that some people are saying that this behavior is still fair, i cannot believe people like this exist.
wow. this just amazed me when i heard about that. i am 15 and doing a project on this.
this is the type of thing that makes me feel ashamed that I'm white
heet heet
that is a lot of reading
it seems like a true and sincere depiction. no doubt an worth-while reading!
Ya, I have seen so much racism still going on down south and especially Alabama that it is frustrating.
THIS SUCKS!
this comments sucks!
You got numerous positive points there. I made a search on the issue and found nearly all peoples will agree with your blog. [url=http://www.howto-getridofbedbugs.com]How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs[/url]
ya i just need info on racism and the justice system ... can you guys give me an idea ... im going to use this actical though
great essay!!!
Just found you site. Good hub. Very realistic and true, and still quite prevalent today in our society. There is so much bigotry and hatred going around that it never seems to end. I am doing a hub on a similar case, and will link this one to mine, if that is OK with you? dw
wow this made me cry how sad and it still goes on today
This is the first time I heard about this trail until my English teacher told us to go home and look it up and I did for the time and I was so sadden by this.i do not like people who act in this manner I think everyone should be treated fairly -but it makes you ask your self wat if the 9 boys were white how do you think this case would be treated then - probably fairly -it just hurts how blacks were treated back then basically like crap.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i think this is not the way that people should react towards others.Everyone has their own rights. All the people in this world deserve their share of dignity.
Racism is not at all desired by anyone in this world. All the people in this world need to be treated equally. There is no place for racism on this earth. We need to strive to achieve peace among all the people of different races and religions. Then only the world can be a better place to live.
joe john 4 years ago
that is cruel and unusual punishment