ETH230H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Scottsboro Boys, Claudia Jones, Fourteenth Amendment To The United States Constitution
Document Summary
Ww1, price of cocoa in trinidad crashed ships used for war effort not export. Parents economic status decreased, decided to move to us. Rumours in caribbean that gold was found in the streets of usa. Scottsboro boy"s case fight on railroad freight train, police arrested 9 black boys. 2 white women on train accused boys of raping them. Jim crow south rape laden w/ racial connotation. All white, all male jury convicted boys 8 to death. Us communist party"s legal wing took on case. Still alabama supreme court upheld lower court"s verdict. Ruled that 14th amendment right to due process was denied right to legal counsel. Setting legal precedent for guaranteeing black citizens legal counsel. One of the original accusers recanted initial testimony, even testified for defence. But all white jury still convicted first defendant. Suspended death sentence & granted new trial judge wouldn"t be re elected the next year. Despite continuing efforts denied defences notion for new trials.
