In 1931, the tensions between whites and people of color were still very high. This was a time where people were no longer united and instead chose to be on separate sides. It is weird and difficult to imagine America in this state since America is known to be “The Melting Pot”, where races, ethnicities, cultures, and traditions are blended together into the nation we know today. Sadly, during this time, there was still segregation and inequality everywhere. White people felt the need to separate themselves from the colored. An example of that would be, African Americans were not allowed to use the same facilities as their neighboring white people. Not only that, but they also refused to allow African American children to attend the same school. This was due to the fact that white people did not want their children to associate with children and families of color thinking they may corrupt or ruin their fellow white classmates. Also, African Americans had to use different water fountains, because the white community felt that African Americans would taint their water supply. Finally, in Scottsboro, Alabama there were nine boys, Charlie Weems, Ozie Powell, Clarence Norris, Olen Montgomery, Willie Roberson, Haywood Patterson, Eugene Williams, Andrew Wright and Leroy Wright, witnessed firsthand of this abuse and unfair treatment. The nine boys decided one day that they would all sneak on to a train headed to Memphis, Indiana. Not all of the boys knew each other, but they did ride in the same cart. Along with them rode two white girls, Ruby Bates and Victoria Price. They soon came to realize that they would get real acquainted with one another when they would all be accused of a crime formed by hate and misunderstanding, just like how in To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson would also be accused of a crime spewed at him due to the hate and racism around him.

Once they reached Scottsboro, Ruby and Victoria told Sheriff Wann that they had been raped by the nine boys. They were instantly sent into town for a medical examination. While the nine boys where found and sent back to Scottsboro. By this point the whole town had heard the rumors of the rape and there were mobs forming. The law enforcement attempted to calm them down and told them to let the law handle it. 

The boys soon saw their case in court. The trials were short and to the point, ending with all nine of them sentenced to death. The cases were then appealed up to the United States Supreme Court, who overturned the ruling and gave all the boys new trials. Over the course of 10 years each boy was slowly released, most of them already adults by this point. 

In the early 1930 in Maycomb County an African American man by the name of Tom Robinson is on trial for the rape of a white woman named, Mayella Ewell. Much like the case above there is no real evidence proving that this accusation is true. In fact there is evidence against it. Unfortunately, in the time of this case it did not matter, simply because Mayella Ewell was white so she must be telling the truth.

The defending attorney for Tom Robinson was Atticus Finch, he tried everything he could to prove Tom Robinson’s innocence. Sadly, all of this best efforts were in vain. Tom Robinson was convicted and sent to prison. After his conviction there was some new evidence found that could have gotten him out of prison. However, Tom Robinson had tried to escape prison and was shot before the news reached him. 

The main difference in these two cases is that one of them is fictional. The trial of Tom Robinson is from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The difference is not what is important though, the similarities are what makes it so important. There are many who believe the Tom Robinson case was actually based off of the Scottsboro Boys’ trials, with the evidence it is not so hard to believe. 

Both of the cases took place in the 1930s in Alabama. Alabama still had very high tensions when it came to race during this time period. Also both defending attorneys took these cases so that they could defend the rights of men. Had these men not tried to defend these boys and men, they surely would have been sentenced to death. 

When you look at all the similarities it is very obvious that Harper Lee based her book off of the actual court case that happened in 1931. Harper Lee grew up in around all of this, he father was actually a lawyer. There are a lot of speculations that Scout is actually a representation of what Harper Lee was like and what she experienced as a child. 

 Knowing what actually happened to inspire Harper Lee to write this book gives it a deeper meaning. When you first read through the book, you know what happens to Tom Robinson is wrong. It is very obvious that he was mistreated not only by the law but also by those in Maycomb county. After finding out about the Scottsboro boys, however, it makes you really see all the inequality in the world. Even though all of this happened in the 1930s, it is still relevant to today, just like the book. Today you can look around and see all the inequality, in the court room, in media, and just out on the streets. It really is sad how the world has not really changed in the past 70+ years. Even today’s world we like to think we are better than we used to be yet there is still so much inequality and unfair treatment of those who are of color. It is sad to think this still happens, and we just let it continue. There are those who are speaking out against yet noting its being changed. 

When To Kill A Mockingbird first came out the book was praised on how accurate the book was to how the south actually was. However, once the book begin being taught in school there were a lot of complaints.  Many of the complaints consisted of the fact that it contains references to rape.  But the other complaints were about the racism in the book. Due to this controversy a full understanding of this book deeper meaning took longer to be brought up than expected. The book, To Kill a Mockingbird, was placed second on the list of most challenged books by the national education Association in 1968. In 2011 the book still remained in the top 50 challenged books that year. It is obvious as to why the book has so many complaints in 1968, considering there is still a lot of embedded racism. However, this does not explain why the book was still getting so many complaints in 2011. The problem could still be the fact that rape is brought up, however, the more real possibility is the talk of racism. Knowing that the people in the south actually treated African Americans this way tends to make people uncomfortable. In 1961 the book received many awards, including the Pulitzer Prize.

To Kill A Mockingbird is an amazing book and shows us the truth of how African Americans were treated. Understanding the trouble, the book caused can help the reader to understand the power this book had and still has. Harper Lee did a wonderful job at conveying the story of the Scottsboro boys in such a way that is easy for teenagers to understand. With the book being told from a child’s point of view the book is not too hard to swallow but it gets the point across. 
