Stories of Scottboro by John Goodman

The novel Stories of Scottsboro by James Goodman reconstructs the famous Scottsboro case. In his novel Goodman uses a multitude of primary sources, including letters, transcripts, court records, newspapers articles, reports from investigators, and diaries of the nine men this case involves to create a narrated history of the Scottsboro case. Goodman portrays the story of the Scottsboro boys and trial from many different perspectives. One chapter is entirely quoted from Judge Horton's decision in Haywood Patterson's trial while the next is quoted from a prominent black newspaper of the time. Goodman allows his audience to understand the Scottsboro conflict from studying conflicting perspectives about the case. Stories of Scottsboro has two main points. The most obvious point is given by the title. Goodman conveys the facts about the Scottsboro case from beginning to end. Goodman describes the incident that took place on the train, the struggle of the ILD and the NAACP to gain representation rights for the nine boys, the outcome of several trials, and the significance of the case. Goodman not only describes the significance of the case for the nine men but of the entire nation as wel

The case sparked the interests of the entire nation. The Southern citizens wanted to get the job done and execute the nine men quickly. Lynch mobs expanded throughout the South and the National Guard was called in to put down the riots. "The men leading the mob threatened to break down the doors if the sheriff wouldn't let them in or the "niggers" out." (pg 6) The Northern citizens supported the nine men and wanted to help them anyway they could. The ILD (International Labor Defense) sent down two lawyers to convince the men that they should represent them in an appeal case. The ILD was composed mainly of Communists. The Scottsboro case was not simply an isolated instance of injustice, the Communists argued, but represented a common demonstration of national oppression and class rule in the South. Maintaining that a fair and impartial trial was impossible, the Party and its followers publicized the case widely in order to apply mass pressure on the Alabama justice system. Protests erupted throughout the country and as far away as Paris, Moscow, and South Africa, and the governor of Alabama was bombarded with telegrams, postcards and letters demanding the immediate release of the "Scottsboro Boys." Through Scottsboro and other related cases, black and white Communists gained entrance into churches, lodges, and clubs in the African-American community, and eventually the ILD was regarded by some as a welcome addition to the array of "racial defense" organizations. Another organization the NAACP, led by Walter White sent lawyers to the prison to gain support from the boys but they were too late. The ILD had gained mass support from the boys, the boy's families, and the African-American community to defend the boys.

Another main point that Goodman displayed throughout his novel was readers can not understand a situation or conflict without studying competing points of view. Goodman uses several primary sources such as diaries, newspaper editorials, and court transcripts to create a narrative history about the Scottsboro case. Goodman recreates the story surrounding the Scottsboro case with many different perspectives to get across to his audience the complete story of the Scottsboro case.

On April 9, Judge Hawkins and Alabama governor Ben Miller received a telegram from the ILD. It said, in part: "We demand stay of execution and opportunity to investigate and prepare for new trial or appeal." (pg 8) The ILD, stepped in and took up the fight to save the lives of the Scottsboro Boys. As July 10 approached, eight sat on death row at Kilby Prison in Montgomery, Alabama. Just 72 hours before they were scheduled to die, they were told that the court had issued a stay of execution.

It all started on March 25, 1931. Nine young black men were riding the rails in search of a shorter breadline, a warmer place to sleep, and hopefully a days' work. Five white boys provoked four black boys, Haywood Patterson, Andy Wright, Roy Wright, and Eugene Williams to fight. Five other black boys came to the aide of Patterson, Williams, and the Wright brothers and they were successful in throwing all but one of white boys off the tank car. The train stopped every hour, so the boys thought nothing when the train came to a stop at Paint Rock, Alabama. At the station dozens of white men, armed with pistols, rifles, and shotguns stormed the train. They took Patterson, his friends, and five other black boys and tied them together and drove them to the Scottsboro jail in Scottsboro, Alabama on a flatbed truck. They were jail for several hours utterly confused as to why they were contained. Finally, the guards came and took them from their cell and lined them up in front of two women. The guards asked the women to point out which boys had "had them" and one woman, Victoria Price, pointed at six of them. The other woman, Ruby Bates, did not say anything. The guard said, "If those six had Miss Price it stands reason that the ot

Some topics in this essay:
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