Scottsboro Boys Research Paper

Racism and discrimination have been and continue to cause injustices around the world. One example of this that seems to keep coming back is the Scottsboro Boys case. This case took place in the 1930’s, but continues to impact society even today. Nine young black men were falsely accused of raping on a freight train over a fight with a group of white men. The case of the Scottsboro Boys was an unfair case that greatly influenced the civil rights movement and the society we live in today. In the 1930’s, racism was prominent throughout America, but especially in the southern states. African Americans were outcasts, not being allowed to attend the same schools or churches as whites and being turned away from businesses. Segregation caused a number of

The Scottsboro Boys were just 9 victims during the time period. Nine young men, Clarence Norris, Charlie Weems, Ozie Powell, Leroy Wright, Olen Montgomery, Willie Roberson, Haywood Patterson, and Eugene Williams, were riding a train to Memphis, Tennessee in search of work. The boys ranged from 13-20 years old, and only 4 of them knew each other before the trials. (Salter) On the train, a fight broke out between a group of white men and the Scottsboro Boys. The young white men were forced off the train, and told authorities that they were attacked. Police were sent to arrest the nine young African Americans at the train station. Two white women, Ruby Bates and Victoria Price, were also aboard the train. These women were also arrested, and in fear that they would be charged for crimes of prostitution and violating the Mann Act, they accused the 9 men of raping them. When asked to identify their attackers, Price only identified 6 of the young men, and it was assumed that the other 3 attacked Bates. (The Scottsboro Boys: Injustice In Alabama) After they were accused, the events of the trials began to unfold. The first trials were held in Scottsboro,