The Scottsboro story is a human tragedy yet an historic and legally uplifting tale at the same time.  Nine poor young Black men, riding freight cars in the height of the Depression, were pulled off a train near the town of Scottsboro, Alabama, and charged with raping two poor white women, also on the train. The boys, obviously innocent, were quickly tried before an all male, all white jury, and sentenced to death.  The amazing story unfolds from there, and because of the growth at that time of the African American newspaper business in the north, it quickly became national and then international cause. Historians believe that this case, which went twice to the US Supreme Court, along with the Emmet Till case, formed the beginnings of the American Civil Rights movement. 

My interest in the case was piqued by the release of a tremendously researched and extremely well written book about the trials, "Storied of Scottsboro" by James Goodman (1995).  and the later release of an outstanding ninety-minute PBS special based on the book.  My two-hour program will include the video and then a brief discussion afterwards about the main themes of the story and its relevance to the Civil Rights tour you are about to take.  Those who cannot spend the two hours with me on Zoom can watch the video ahead of the program and then tune in at 8 p.m. for the discussion.  The video is titled "Scottsboro, An American Tragedy" in the PBA American Experience series. You can find it for purchase or rent on: Amazon or Apple TV.  I look forward to joining with you to discuss this truly American story.

Larry Raful is a retired law school professor and was the dean of two law schools in his 46-year career. He taught legal ethics for over 40 years and also taught, among other courses, an upper division seminar about the Scottsboro trials.  He has been married to the ever patient and understanding Dinah for 53 years and his two proudest achievements are his three daughters, including Sarah Raful Whinston, and meeting Willie Mays.

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