Racism was an immense problem in the American South during the 1930s and still is in America today. In the PBS American Experience: An American Tragedy, it is clearly shown. The blacks were mistreated because of their color and their class. From the time the nine black boys got on the train they were already at a disadvantage because of their race. Scottsboro was clearly a tragedy that will never be forgotten. This episode in American history proves how many people in the South were not concerned with how their fellow Americans were treated. The nine African American boys involved in the case were placed already at a disadvantage from the time they stepped on the train, because of their race. The train ride proved that an African-American
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The Scottsboro Boys were poor, raised in black family, and could barely afford a decent meal. They young black men were on the train in search of work. Victoria Price, Ruby Bates, and the other whites on that train were also looking for work. Even though Price and Bates were not supposed to be on the train traveling in the company of the black men, they knew they could take attention off themselves and place it on the Scottsboro Boys if they accused them of rape. During the period of the Scottsboro Boys, Southern whites often disrespected the black men on a regular basis. Race, gender, and class where are factors that placed black men at a disadvantage. It was clear that black men were not allowed to make any kind of comments of pretty much any sort towards white women. Even if a white woman felt as if she had been harassed or threatened by a black man, it was very easy to have him arrested. The case of the Scottsboro Boys shows us how easily a white women could accuse a black male or in that case black men of rape or sexual harassment. The Scottsboro Boys were taking an innocent train ride and Price and Bates accused them of rape. If their plan was to make false accusations they could have chosen any other man on the train including the white men, but by accusing all nine of the black men on the train, the ladies knew that the black men would be convicted with little or no
The Scottsboro Boys were poor, raised in black family, and could barely afford a decent meal. They young black men were on the train in search of work. Victoria Price, Ruby Bates, and the other whites on that train were also looking for work. Even though Price and Bates were not supposed to be on the train traveling in the company of the black men, they knew they could take attention off themselves and place it on the Scottsboro Boys if they accused them of rape. During the period of the Scottsboro Boys, Southern whites often disrespected the black men on a regular basis. Race, gender, and class where are factors that placed black men at a disadvantage. It was clear that black men were not allowed to make any kind of comments of pretty much any sort towards white women. Even if a white woman felt as if she had been harassed or threatened by a black man, it was very easy to have him arrested. The case of the Scottsboro Boys shows us how easily a white women could accuse a black male or in that case black men of rape or sexual harassment. The Scottsboro Boys were taking an innocent train ride and Price and Bates accused them of rape. If their plan was to make false accusations they could have chosen any other man on the train including the white men, but by accusing all nine of the black men on the train, the ladies knew that the black men would be convicted with little or no