Scottsboro TrialsScottsboro TrialsBy Ashante YoungBy Ashante Young

Period 3Period 3

Imagine…Imagine…

Imagine that you are a youngImagine that you are a young African-American boy on a African-American boy on a train minding your own train minding your own business when suddenly a business when suddenly a group of white men pick a group of white men pick a fight with you. Imagine that fight with you. Imagine that you are put on trial for a crime you are put on trial for a crime you did not commit. Imagine you did not commit. Imagine being afraid of what will being afraid of what will happen to you and worried happen to you and worried about your family. Imagine a about your family. Imagine a court full of white faces; none court full of white faces; none of which are on your side. That of which are on your side. That is what happened to nine black is what happened to nine black boys of Scottsboro, Alabama.boys of Scottsboro, Alabama.

When you look at this train, what do you see? Do you imagine nine When you look at this train, what do you see? Do you imagine nine boys inside frightened of what might happen to them or do you see boys inside frightened of what might happen to them or do you see two young women inside concocting a lie to tell? This is a model two young women inside concocting a lie to tell? This is a model remake of the train that held nine boys, and two women; both of remake of the train that held nine boys, and two women; both of which that would be on trial for the remainder of their life.which that would be on trial for the remainder of their life.

Handcuffs, a way of degrading a person’s finer sensibilities. Handcuffs, a way of degrading a person’s finer sensibilities. The Court handcuffed and chained the Nine Scottsboro Boys The Court handcuffed and chained the Nine Scottsboro Boys in PUBLIC. Does that violate human dignity or does it prove in PUBLIC. Does that violate human dignity or does it prove that being chained was what the nine boys deserved?that being chained was what the nine boys deserved?

Nine boys, little more than children, surrounded entirely by white Nine boys, little more than children, surrounded entirely by white hatred and blind prejudice, were sentenced to be lynched at the hatred and blind prejudice, were sentenced to be lynched at the earliest possible moment permitted by law. Was it fair that this type of earliest possible moment permitted by law. Was it fair that this type of action was happening in our New Found Land or was it simply the action was happening in our New Found Land or was it simply the “right” thing to do? It is no exaggeration certainly to call this a legal “right” thing to do? It is no exaggeration certainly to call this a legal lynching.lynching.

This picture shows nine African-American boys in jail attire This picture shows nine African-American boys in jail attire and chained. Look at the faces of these kids -- broken-spirited, and chained. Look at the faces of these kids -- broken-spirited, melancholy, and doubt fill their faces. They knew as well as melancholy, and doubt fill their faces. They knew as well as anyone else that escaping the false accusations told upon anyone else that escaping the false accusations told upon them were impossible; there was absolutely no room for hope.them were impossible; there was absolutely no room for hope.

Newspapers followed the Scottsboro Trials continuously. It Newspapers followed the Scottsboro Trials continuously. It was no secret that ALL of the boys were sentenced to die. was no secret that ALL of the boys were sentenced to die. Trial after trial, the verdict was the same.Trial after trial, the verdict was the same.

Hope was not a key element for the Scottsboro Boys. All they knew Hope was not a key element for the Scottsboro Boys. All they knew was to tell THEIR story; the TRUE story; in which no one would believe. was to tell THEIR story; the TRUE story; in which no one would believe. Mostly everyone were against the nine boys except their lawyers.Mostly everyone were against the nine boys except their lawyers.

These two women, Ruby Bates and Victoria Price, are the two These two women, Ruby Bates and Victoria Price, are the two women who accused the nine boys of raping them. As the trials women who accused the nine boys of raping them. As the trials progressed, Ruby Bates finally admits that the boys never raped progressed, Ruby Bates finally admits that the boys never raped the two women and that Victoria had told her to lie or they would the two women and that Victoria had told her to lie or they would both do jail time for under-age prostitution. If Bates admitted it both do jail time for under-age prostitution. If Bates admitted it was a lie, why were the boys still held accountable for a conduct was a lie, why were the boys still held accountable for a conduct they did not commit?they did not commit?

The main question that all trials narrow down are “Are they The main question that all trials narrow down are “Are they guilty or innocent?” At the end of the trials, many people guilty or innocent?” At the end of the trials, many people believed the Scottsboro boys were innocent however, the jury believed the Scottsboro boys were innocent however, the jury decided they were guilty. All nine boys were sentenced to die.decided they were guilty. All nine boys were sentenced to die.

Above is a picture of mockingbird representing the idea of Above is a picture of mockingbird representing the idea of innocence. What is the moral of human nature -- are people innocence. What is the moral of human nature -- are people essentially good or essentially evil? The boys of Scottsboro were essentially good or essentially evil? The boys of Scottsboro were innocent—thus, to kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence.innocent—thus, to kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence.

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