Comparing Lee's Tom Robinson Case and the Scottsboro Case
Alisha Oberg
Edited by Mai Do
Both Harper Lee's Tom Robinson case in To Kill a Mockingbird and the Scottsboro case of 1931 share many similarities. The two cases involve African American males accused of raping a white woman. In the Scottsboro case, "the women falsely accused the nine young black men ... of rape" (Salter), much like when “'Mr. Bob Ewell [accuses Tom Robinson] of [raping] his [daughter]” (Lee 124) in To Kill a Mockingbird. Furthermore, the Robinson and Scottsboro case both arise during the Great Depression. “The only reason [Mrs. Merriweather keeps Sophy, her help,] is because the depression [has taken its toll] and [Sophy] needs [money]” (Lee 233).
The women who are allegedly raped in both cases are of poor condition, as "the ... plank walls [of the Ewell's house are] supplemented with sheets of corrugated iron, its roof shingled with tin cans hammered flat” (Lee 170). Moreover, the women of both cases are also similar in that they often deny knowledge of events during their testimonies. “‘[Mayella] just [does not] remember [the events that transpired], [and she] ... [does not want to] remember” (Lee 185). Additionally, in the two cases the accused was one or more Afrian American men.
When both cases were taken to court, they were watched by many. "There [is not] a seat left [in the Maycomb County courtroom]" (Lee 164). The jury for Tom Robinson is “sunburned [and] lanky, [made of] all farmers” (Lee 164). In Maycomb, only whites made up the jury, just as the jury for the Scottsboro case was all white. Both alleged crimes took place in the South. "[If] Simon Finch [had not traveled] up to Alabama, [the Finch family] would [not be there]" (Lee 3).
The women who are allegedly raped in both cases are of poor condition, as "the ... plank walls [of the Ewell's house are] supplemented with sheets of corrugated iron, its roof shingled with tin cans hammered flat” (Lee 170). Moreover, the women of both cases are also similar in that they often deny knowledge of events during their testimonies. “‘[Mayella] just [does not] remember [the events that transpired], [and she] ... [does not want to] remember” (Lee 185). Additionally, in the two cases the accused was one or more Afrian American men.
When both cases were taken to court, they were watched by many. "There [is not] a seat left [in the Maycomb County courtroom]" (Lee 164). The jury for Tom Robinson is “sunburned [and] lanky, [made of] all farmers” (Lee 164). In Maycomb, only whites made up the jury, just as the jury for the Scottsboro case was all white. Both alleged crimes took place in the South. "[If] Simon Finch [had not traveled] up to Alabama, [the Finch family] would [not be there]" (Lee 3).
Sources:
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1960. Print.
Scottsboro: An American Tragedy. Dir. Daniel Anker and Barak Goodman. By Barak Goodman and Kay Boyle. Perf. Andre Braugher. Cowboy Pictures, 2001. Film.
The Murder of Emmett Till. Dir. Stanley Nelson. By Marcia A. Smith. Perf. Andre Braugher. PBS American Experience, 2003. DVD.
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1960. Print.
Scottsboro: An American Tragedy. Dir. Daniel Anker and Barak Goodman. By Barak Goodman and Kay Boyle. Perf. Andre Braugher. Cowboy Pictures, 2001. Film.
The Murder of Emmett Till. Dir. Stanley Nelson. By Marcia A. Smith. Perf. Andre Braugher. PBS American Experience, 2003. DVD.