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Stories of Scottsboro: Vintage Books Edition

Many Southerners in Alabama, for example, were stunned at the outcry after the first sham of a trial, as they felt they deserved to be commended for conducting an "orderly" trial and preventing a lynching. I found the discussions relating to the different motives and tactics of the NAACP and the Communist Party, and the struggle for control of the case, to be particularly valuable. The Communists, who were already outsiders, weren't concerned about public opinion, saw the entire justice system as rotten to the core, and acted accordingly. The NAACP, by contrast, was more concerned with acceptance, and looked to bring about institutional change.

Another really enlightening narrative was how the Southern politicians - who were mostly pro-labor FDR Democrats - could be so stunningly obtuse on matters of criminal justice and basic human rights for minorities. In today's society, we traditionally associate progressive, left-leaning pro-labor and egalitarian movements with civil rights causes, but this book shows pretty clearly that it wasn't always that way.

Small criticism would be that the last 75 pages or so felt rushed, like Goodman was just cramming in the "where are they now" details to wrap up the narrative. While it was poignant to see how most of the Scottsboro Nine never recovered from their ordeal, the recap lacks the analysis that made the beginning of the book so compelling. Overall, though, highly recommended.

Jan 02, Barksdale Penick rated it really liked it. I read this as part of a continuing series of history books recommended by history major daughter Alyssa. Apparently this was something of a groundbreaking book, due mostly to its format and style, which presents the saga of the 8 young blacks accused of rape in Alabama in about The tale is presented in a series of very short chapters, which discuss different aspects of the tale.

One might discuss the state of the Democratic Party in Alabama during the years, or how the prosecutor came to I read this as part of a continuing series of history books recommended by history major daughter Alyssa. One might discuss the state of the Democratic Party in Alabama during the years, or how the prosecutor came to be in mhis position. The book also follows the lives of the men as they grew up and grew old. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, as it presents a shocking story in a measured, wide ranging fashion.

Nov 30, Adam rated it liked it Recommended to Adam by: Communists, drifters, Jews, good ole' boys, carpetbaggers and their battle over the fates of nine young black men dragged off a train in Paint Rock, Albama, accused of rape, and sentenced to death.


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In a series of legal battles that would drag on for decades, the Scottsboro Boys's cases bounced up and down through the courts, twice being heard by the United States Supreme Court. Weaving the tale together through an unimaginable amount of research, Goodman presents the stories through the eyes of Communists, drifters, Jews, good ole' boys, carpetbaggers and their battle over the fates of nine young black men dragged off a train in Paint Rock, Albama, accused of rape, and sentenced to death.

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Weaving the tale together through an unimaginable amount of research, Goodman presents the stories through the eyes of all the involved parties. The book comes at the trials from a number of different angles, converging around the questions of race, justice, equity, and criminal procedure - all of which were bent, twisted, and molded in disgusting ways. A long and detailed read that would be well worth it for anyone deeply interested in the deep south or interested in taking a glimpse of just how egregious miscarriages of justice are carried out, right in front of our faces.

Aug 23, Kerry Price rated it it was amazing.


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  8. A remarkable effort to retell the Scottsboro saga from multiple perspectives. Each chapter is written from the viewpoint of a different party to the tragedy. The effect is to humanize every party, and thereby to render the horrors of the trial and incarcerations all the more tragic, offensive and shameful.

    Dec 21, Laura rated it really liked it Shelves: This is a very powerful book, in which the author looks at different points of view -- the boys who grew to be men during their time in jail, the judges, the attorneys, the NAACP, the Communists, the two accusers, the different groups of people in Alabama. Read in the light of the murders of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis, one realizes how far, in some ways, we still have to go. Apr 16, Will Corvin rated it really liked it. An incredibly thorough account of one of the biggest frame-ups in American judicial history.

    Stories of Scottsboro: Vintage Books Edition

    Disheartening to read, but also incredibly interesting to read as Goodman illustrates the racist forces, North-South divide, anti-communist fears, and political considerations that influenced this case that lasted from the beginning of the Civil Rights movement until the end. Sep 26, Debra rated it really liked it.

    A powerful book that makes one extremely angry about how easily it was for innocent boys freedom to be taken away. Oct 12, Deb rated it really liked it. Excellent chronicle of some of the darkest days in our nation's history. Difficult reading at times. Jun 11, Andy Bowers rated it really liked it.

    Read stories-of-scottsboro-vintage-books-edition

    History of the events leading up to Powell v Alabama. The author explores the different "stories," i. Page turner so far. Feb 14, Susie rated it liked it Shelves: A haunting tale- but I did not like the way it was written. It definitely tells the story from every perspective, but it was choppy and confusing at times.

    Casey Gamble rated it it was amazing May 12, Ann Elisabeth rated it it was amazing Sep 22, Greg rated it really liked it Nov 14, Thomas Palaschak rated it really liked it Dec 25, Dispatched from the UK in 2 business days When will my order arrive? Home Contact Us Help Free delivery worldwide.

    Scottsboro Documentary

    Description In , outside the town of Scottsboro, Alabama, nine black youths were charged with the rape of two white women. The case became a cause celebre that shocked America, reawakened the struggle for racial equality, and led finally to two landmark Supreme Court decisions.

    In this powerful retelling of the Scottsboro case, James Goodman, an assistant professor of history at Harvard, sets out to answer the question "what happened? Goodman shows how people were able to present their stories of Scottsboro as the true "Story of Scottsboro, " discounting other accounts in the process. Using trial transcripts, countless newspaper and magazine articles and editorials, reports of private investigators, diaries, memories, oral histories, and autobiographies, Stories of Scottsboro is an engrossing exploration of the way in which history takes shape in people's minds through the stories they choose to relate.

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    Visit our Beautiful Books page and find lovely books for kids, photography lovers and more. Flap copy "A rich and compelling narrative, as taut and suspenseful as good fiction. In places, Stories of Scottsboro is almost heartbreaking, not least because Goodman shows what people felt as well as what they thought. To the Communist Party, which mounted the defense, the Scottsboro case was an ideal opportunity to unite issues of race and class.

    To jury after jury, the idea that nine black men had raped two white women on a train traveling through northern Alabama in was so self-evident that they found the Scottsboro boys guilty even after the U.