Excerpts from the following primary and secondary sources of the Scottsboro Boys trial of 1931 and the first Scottsboro Boys trial of 1933 held in Decatur, Alabama, from March through April are used in the lesson activities: Students should have completed their initial reading of the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird before commencing work on this lesson. Encourage students to consider aspects of moral courage and/or cowardice which these characters may have exhibited during the trial. The social justice in this context of the song The Death of Emmett Till refer to America needs to. Do they concur with the AFI poll? Wells intends to dissolve these myths and reasons into lynching, especially black rape white women. Imagine you are serving on the jury in the Scottsboro Boys and you are also serving on the jury in the. Provincialism is a manner of expression beliefs or mindset particular to a special region and not commonly used outside that region, therefore not fashionable or sophisticated. How do the report and the novel reflect the nature of mob mentality? Some of the articles from this page of Facing Historys Mockingbird teaching guide may help you to prepare. Consider if a remake of the film were to be undertaken today: What actor could be cast in the role of Atticus? It was the word of a white girl against the word of a black man. until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. To Kill a Mockingbird: Chapter 23 Summary & Analysis In this lesson, students will perform a comparative close reading of select informational texts from the Scottsboro Boys trials alongside sections from To Kill a Mockingbird. In a pivotal scene at the heart of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout, Jem and Dill follow Atticus to the town square late at night on the eve of Tom Robinsons trial. Though Atticus tries his best to stop the lynching of Tom Robinson, the credit for saving him really must go to Scout. EDSITEment is a project of theNational Endowment for the Humanities, Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center, Activity 1. Rogan is a bully, using the oldest trick in the bully repertoire: challenge someone who intimidates you to a ridiculous contest that will bring him down to your level. The Equal Justice Initiative founder, Bryan Stevenson, is quoted saying that lynching and the terror era shaped the geography, politics, economics and social characteristics of being black Had no hope left in him and decided to go for the run. Some with hopes for justice and liberty but most unapologetically hoping for an unfair sentence. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by the American author Harper Lee. Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. Harper Lee had used the tragic situation of Tom Robinsons trial to explore many themes including, racism and differences in privilege. Analyze the historical context of the trial and the book to determine the extent to which race relations had changed during the first half of the 20th century. Today, African Americans are still being discriminated for job opportunities because of stereotypes people made that make African Americans look bad. The poem has a powerful meaning as it narrates how innocent african-american men blamed for either rape or murder were lynched in the past. How does Leibowitzs summation compare to Atticuss closing argument in the fictional trial? that students are making connections between the treatment of Tom Robinson and the cases of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and others. Lynching, is what the song called Strange Fruit by Abel Meeropol is about. In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, siblings Jem and Scout Finch grow up in a small town called Maycomb, Alabama. Students will find additional evidence on the character traits of both Atticus Finch and Judge John Taylor surfaces after the trial scene has concluded. There is also persuasion in the book itself, convincing the reader that racism is wrong and we need to treat everyone equality no matter of their culture or race. visits to sites around the South. He was accused of raping a white girl. All but the youngest were sentenced to death, even though one of the women recanted her story. Tell them there are two attorneys for the prosecution, in the Scottsboro Boys trials. beaten, tied to a plow and set afire in the spring of 1922. Enormously popular, it was translated into some 40 languages, sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, and is one of the most-assigned novels in American schools. The character of Atticus Finch is among the most beloved in literature. Ransdall spent ten days in early May of 1931 interviewing a number of people involved in the case including the two plaintiffs, Victoria Price and Ruby Bates. Have them pay special attention to the instances in which these characters may have exhibited courage or cowardice. How does each trial reflect the social and racial prejudice of the American South in the 1930s? Who was Atticus Finch? - Emory University It can be dangerous as time goes by. It expresses the reality of the lynching of the African American community in a way that is very easy to understand. Slave songs, therefore, do not pardon the institution of slavery; in fact, they do just the opposite. 4. According to the Times editorial, the Equal Justice Initiative Essay On Tom Robinson Lynched In To Kill A Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes: Community | SparkNotes Kill a Mockingbird? It was a long play, but the quick pacing and bright dialogue held my attention throughout. It is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, punish a convicted transgressor, or intimidate people. Be sure to have them include evidence from they have collected from primary and secondary passages and the novel in their answers. Cite evidence from both trials in your response. To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 14 & 15 Summary & Analysis - SparkNotes Which tells a better story? Lynching In To Kill A Mockingbird - 625 Words | Bartleby What are the strengths of each summation in each case? by Tom in Lexington on 6/28/23Whitney Hall - Louisville. Teachers Version: Activity 2. He says that he destroyed Mr. Ewell's credibility at the trial and if Mr. Ewell spitting in his face saved Mayella a beating, he's fine with it. Explain how and why such moral courage surfaces in spite of the social context of each trial. Worksheets 2.1 Part 1 Trial Characters Traits. Is justice blind or is it influenced by community and individual prejudices as well as other factors? Many of the town's citizens, including Lee, petitioned Alabama governor Benjamin Miller, seeking clemency, and Miller commuted Lett's death sentence to. Do any of Miss Ransdalls observations of Ruby and Victoria stand out as being courageous in their honesty for the time in which they were made? Does Atticus Finchs courageous defense of Tom Robinson in the To Kill a Mockingbird trial seem realistic or overly idealistic? 1 2 3 Lynch mobs and the Klu Klux Klan Lynch mobs Lynch mobs were gangs of men who took it upon themselves to impart their own form of justice on a black person who they felt had committed a. The detectives believed she did not kill her husband because of who they thought she was. Is Atticuss defense more or less courageous than Leibowitzs defense? Although the themes, setting and characters of Mockingbird could be paired with any number of pieces from The Timess vast archive, our guest writer, Laura Tavares from Facing History and Ourselves, In To Kill A Mockingbird, white citizens believe that black people always commit crimes. A tale of two fathers "To Kill a Mockingbird," which won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Literature and cemented Lee's place in the American canon, offers an idealized view of Atticus through the eyes of the young Scout: He is deeply moral, fair and kind, a man who earns respect from the African American community for his work to defend Tom Robinson, a father who guides his children to . study of the history of lynching. Lynching was way of life in the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century. Yet readers know relatively little about Tom, and in the excerpt weve selected here, he demands? To kill a mockingbird has many big themes that played a part in the plot of the story, some of them being Courage, Cruelty, Honor, Hatred, Ignorance, Justice, Kindness, Prejudice, Tolerance and Maturation, but one of the most important themes in the story was Racism. Cassandras voice is most certainly the melody of this version of Strange Fruit and is used in all 4 verses. Whether youve responded to this news with delighted anticipation, concerned skepticism or something in between, the recent attention to Ms. Lee and her work reminds us of the central place Mockingbird Both historical and fictional trials express the courage required to stand up for the Constitutional principle providing for equal justice to all under the law. Are there any aspects of the observations of the plaintiffs and their families in the two trials that would support the old adage: Fact is stranger than fiction? book among American readers. In more radical cases lynching was used as a way to persecute blacks for heinous crimes they were often wrongly accused of committing. Many of the items listed for each year are linked to further information in the form of images, audio, and video. Assessment:Have students think about what they have learned about each plaintiff and their families from the observations they have recorded. Atticus Finch Character Analysis in To Kill a Mockingbird - SparkNotes Have them pay careful attention to description of the Ewells, the plaintiffs family in chapter 17, and Mayellas testimony on the witness stand in chapter 18. White nationalism, Jim Crow Laws and Segregation made lynchings more accessible, as mob rule, and the failure of the federal government to deem the treatment of African Americans as a violation of the 14th Amendment easier. Throughout the song, the lyrics of Strange Fruits by Billie Holiday blare from the background, stating strange fruit swinging from the poplar trees blood on the leaves (Blood on the Leaves) over and over. Scout and Jem's appearance at the jail certainly ruffles the feathers of the men, who are determined to take Tom Robinson from the jail and dole out their own form of justice. Write a paragraph about the arguments. To Kill a Mockingbird, novel by American author Harper Lee, published in 1960. In Harper Lee 's To Kill A Mockingbird, the author used point of view and symbolism to acknowledge how the the several social divisions which make up much of the adult world are shown to be both irrational and extremely destructive. To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes: Courage | SparkNotes To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis - 502 Words - Internet Public Library She has the narrator Scout and the other children outside the courtroom during this part of the trial. who lived from the 1890s to the 1950s. Does the report help you to assess How? Tell students that for the purposes of Activity 2, the Haywood Patterson trial held March through April 1933 in Decatur, Alabama under Judge James E. Horton will be considered. In 1931, nine black youths, ranging in age from 13 to 19, were wrongfully convicted by all-white juries of raping two white women on a train in north Alabama. Compare the societal values that are manifested in the Scottsboro Boys and the To Kill a Mockingbird trials. On April 19, 2013, in a formal ceremony at the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center, Alabamas Governor Robert Bentley signed posthumous pardons for the entire group of young men wrongfully convicted back in the 1930s. Using the Douglas Linder website, teachers may want students to first read through Linders full account for a comprehensive overview of , For Activity 2, direct students specifically to the biography section and the Linder essay entitled: , Another resource for background information on main characters in the 1933 trial is the companion website to the. What experiences in your life, and what elements of your own identity, might shape the actions youll take in the world? Parallels can be made between the fictional trial of Tom Robinson and the historical Scottsboro Boys case trials, which Harper Lee drew upon as inspiration for the novel. understand and come to terms with this history? How do the young lawyers working with the project try to correct the history, and what effect does their work have on the communities and families involved? Another meaning of the song Strange Fruit is a haunting protest against the inhumanity of racism(Blair).Therefore, African American bodies hanged from trees when they are sentenced to death by a jury in the 1930s. Connection to To Kill a Mockingbird and Harper Lee ""besides," atticus was saying "you're not scared of the crowd are you?" (145 Lee) Tom was gonna be lynched Harper Lee might have known a victim Harper might have known Lynchers What is Lynching Yet the legacies of racial violence and injustice have persisted in many Southern communities, decades after the end of legal The song opens in a high pitch tinkling piano, soft flute (that reminds me of the wind bowing) a soft distant sound of an electric guitar and the eerie background bass that has the feeling of darkness and fear. 8Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence. Atticus Finch Character Analysis. To Kill a Mockingbird | Summary, Characters, Book, & Facts Are there any events in the early 21st century that cause the story to resonate with todays audience? When Tom Robinson has accused the entirety of the town flocked to the courthouse to view the trial. communitywide violence have been erased from civic memory.. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence. Lastly, many African American families suffered between the racism that the white people expressed when they saw an African American. 3. What, if anything, does each trial experience say about the universal values of courage, the truth, and justice? I don't think anybody in Maycomb'll Starkly Please be aware that this passage, like others in the novel, contains racial epithets and dehumanizing language. In the activity, students interpret firsthand accounts of the fictional and historical trials as recorded by two different witnesses. defendant, and a long forgiving letter from his mother, it was decided that Dill could stay. with the goal of helping students more deeply understand Mockingbird, the world of the novel, and our own world. As they passed under a streetlight, Atticus reached out and massaged Jems hair, his one gesture of affection. Are there any parallels to these cases in current trials being covered by the media? Students should refer back to the textual evidence gathered in Worksheet 1 to support their responses. Tell them Ransdall was a young teacher, journalist, and activist asked byACLU officials to travel to Alabama to investigate and report on the controversial trials of the Scottsboro Boys that had just taken place. The author Harper Lee in 2006 with children dressed as characters from her novel To Kill A Mockingbird.. How does Harper Lees fictional portrayal of the attempted lynching compare with the historical examples described in the Equal Justice Initiative report? What is moral courage? Northeastern University School of Laws Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project works to research cold cases of racial violence and Harper Lee uses a range of techniques to present the mob in a bad, and in cases a mocking light. Because of this, mockingbirds are pure creatures, and . Quotes To Kill a Mockingbird Characters Jean Louise Finch (Scout) Jean Louise Finch (Scout) The novel's protagonist. What clues in the text reveal her point of view? Below, she pairs Chapter 15 of the novel with a recent Times article on the Equal Justice Initiative report documenting the history of racial lynching in the United States. Flash forward 80 years later: The Scottsboro Boys surfaced again in the national news. 6Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. What social and moral commentary is Ms. Lee offering through her portrayal To kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. How does Samuel Leibowitz measure up to Atticus as a defense attorney? Geraniums and Camellias. The trial in this book is about Mayella and Bob Ewell, two white people, claiming and arguing that Tom Robinson, a black person, raped Mayella Ewell. Does this historical context help you to more fully imagine life in Maycomb? To Kill a Mockingbird - JSTOR Is one more persuasive than the other? The plot of To Kill a Mockingbird was reportedly inspired in part by his unsuccessful defense of two African American mena father and a sonaccused of murdering a white storekeeper. to this day. What legacies of the lynching era do you see today? Wells to challenge the Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas. The Equal Justice Initiative report documents the fates of nearly 4,000 African-American lynching victims, restoring names and stories to individuals whose humanity has often been obscured. In "Poem for Black Boys," Giovanni A perfect example of in the piece of how African-Americans are vilified comes at the end of the fourth stanza with the lines "grow a natural and practice vandalism/these are useful games (some say a skill even learned)." Its a perennial favorite in schools and, according to one study, the most-recommended argues that this history needs to be properly commemorated and more widely discussed before the United States can fully understand the causes and origins of the racial injustice that hobbles the country How would such a case be handled in contemporary America? Mr. Underwood, the publisher of Maycomb 's newspaper as well as a respected all of Atticus, sadly compares Tom 's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds (pg.244) stating another reference to the ever-present mockingbird, Thesis:He wanted to give Tom the voice he deserves. What themes are echoed in his work? Use observations about the characters, characters quotations, testimony, courtroom speeches, and primary and secondary sources to support your analysis. She and her brother, Jeremy Atticus ("Jem"), are raised by their widowed . The fictional character of Charles Baker ("Dill") Harris also has a real-life counterpart. We all use persuasion in our daily lives, whether it be to convince our friends or for Atticus he has to persuade a jury and a room full racist people. To Kill a Mockingbird: Atticus Finch Quotes | SparkNotes The book focuses on Jean Louise Scout and Jeremy Atticus Jem and their coming of age and the major events that made the two grow up. This line makes it seem like the blood that is dripping from the people hanging is feeding the trees root, and this could symbolize growth because America was a growing country back then and still is today. Alice Walker uses. Rating: 5 out of 5. Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme. Over the course of the novel's three years, Scout grows from six to nine years old. Everything you need for every book you read. Many neighbors and family members take offense to her love read analysis of Jean Louise Finch (Scout) The rhythm of this piece is a 4. PDF VOCABULARY - To Kill A Mockingbird Chapters 15-17 defendant - person Kirvin, Tex., where three black men accused of killing a white woman were set on fire in 1922 before a crowd of hundreds. Are there any fundamental similarities between the two defendants? Have them write a cause and effect analysis of the plaintiffs in both trials based on their observations. What social issues does the documentary raise beyond the racial injustice of this case? In the United States, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. This 1894 article (PDF) from The Times reports on her visit to Brooklyn to enlist support for her crusade, and There are no closing remarks by the prosecution in the To Kill a Mockingbird trial. In general racism between whites and blacks can be seen throughout the globe during the era of slavery, The article Regarding the Aftermaths of Lynching is one written by Kidada E. WIlliams, that helps explain why it is important to be interested in what happens after an individual is lynched. These two lines show how the black male, especially the young black male is viewed as nothing more than a thief skilled in the art of crime. After Abel Meeropol heard the story about Cameron and was left haunted for days by the photograph of the lynching; he was inspired to write the poem. Paula Giddingss biography of Wells chronicles her life more broadly. This activity will also build students contextual knowledge of the American South in the 1930s. Further evidence to the fact is found in the line "I'm told it has full instructions of how to siphon gas and fill a bottle," which is again alludes to H. Rap Brown, his cry of Burn Baby Burn' and the use of pipe bombs and the like to demand equality. Harper Lee, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and Civil Rights | Time