Biography of the Scottsboro Boys and the Purpose of Scottsboro-Boys.org

The Scottsboro Boys stood as emblematic examples of racial discrimination throughout the 1930s as nine African American teenagers. In 1931 nine boys between 13 and 19 faced unfair rape charges when two white women accused them on a train in Scottsboro, Alabama. Their legal battles transformed into a major civil rights milestone, showing how prejudice shaped Southern justice under the Jim Crow system during the 1930s.

After the accusers admitted to lying and no evidence surfaced, the Scottsboro Boys had to fight years of legal battles through multiple trials and Supreme Court appeals despite their innocence. Historic court cases in Powell v. Alabama (1932) and Norris v. In 1935 the Supreme Court ruled in Powell v. Alabama and Norris v. Alabama that defendants need quality lawyers and juries should not discriminate against people based on their race. Despite their legal victories, the boys continued to live through unfair incarceration and social isolation. Their story teaches us to stay alert against current racial disparities.

The website Scottsboro-Boys.org exists to teach people about racial injustice while teaching the history of these men and fighting for equal rights. It operates as a satellite location of the important Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center situated in Scottsboro, Alabama. The museum resides in Joyce Chapel United Methodist Church which possesses cultural and historical importance.

Scottsboro-Boys.org shows how the museum works to teach people about the Scottsboro Boys cases and their important role in building US civil rights. The site was developed as a joint project between New College at the University of Alabama and its Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility. Students and scholars from Alabama A&M University, Auburn University, and Tuskegee University help create the museum's activities and educational materials to show the story to today's audience.

Through funding from major foundations like Ford and Scottsboro Multicultural plus National Trust support the site shares American history's painful truths. Through Scottsboro-Boys.org, users can study the Scottsboro Boys' history using both educational content and visual resources to understand their struggle for justice.