The Pittsburgh Tatler: The case of the Scottsboro Boys is one of the most disturbing and distressing miscarriages of justice in US history: in 1931, law enforcement officers in Scottsboro, Alabama, pulled nine young black men from a Memphis-bound locomotive after learning of an altercation between the black men and a group of white men hoboing on the same train. Two white women also on the train then falsely accused the black men of having raped them, presumably to avoid being arrested for prostitution. The series of trials that ensued over the next half decade, during which the black defendants were systematically and repeatedly denied due process, resulted in a landmark Supreme Court decision establishing a defendant’s right to a competent defense.
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More and more we are starting to see pieces of entertainment that are so extremely frustrating to watch and hit so close to home. I personally love it, the premise and purpose of "The Scottsboro Boys", reminding me of the mini-series: "People Vs. OJ Simpson", where they portray the trial of OJ Simpson for his presumed murder of his wife Nicole. During OJ, I had a gut feeling that he was guilty and I would find myself occasionally yelling or screaming at the tv screen because he was winning. The Scottsboro Boys pushes that to a new level as you know that these men are innocent, still you have to endure both their pain and come into contact with your ability to empathize during the duration of the show. When watching shows that portray stories or cases that set the clock back on justice and race issues, there is a sense of disbelief that encapsulates the audience. On top of that, I believe that the minimal set for the show will only exemplify the bareness of the story even more.
I just watched this show last night and was both devastated and inspired. I’ve never heard of this musical, nor the actual history behind it. But I can imagine how the story would unfold from the moment these nine young boys, some even under 13, got falsely arrested. I certainly hope justice may come in the end for them but I knew it would not come. Stories and productions like The Scottsboro Boys are extremely important now as you see familiarity between the show that was based on a dark scary time for African Americans in history and the reality today when minorities are still underrepresented and underprivileged. Even the mock of minstrelsy in telling this story reminds people of the disgusting residue in theatre and tv industries – whitewashing. The beautiful musicality of all the songs, the vaudeville style of dances, the burlesque of racist southern whites (especially the ladies) all pose the strongest contrast to the actual story, which was nothing but the opposite – no music, no dazzling lights, no prancing around, only injustice.
I took the opportunity to see this show last night and it was truly an incredible interpretation of such a horrific story. The show itself cast a light on the case of the Scottsboro boys through profound music, thrilling choreography, and energetic storytelling in a vaudeville style. This was truly the type of storytelling that breathes passion- especially given the current standings of our nation in regards to the treatment of people of color in the justice system. The most impactful moment in the show for me, which was also highlighted in the article, was the ending. The Lady, an omnipresent figure in the show (and only woman in the cast) who never spoke, neatly tied together the injustices that happened to the Scottsboro boys, the injustices during the Civil Rights movement, and reminded the audience of the injustices still happening today. I truly believe that this is the type of theatre that is needed, in order to push boundaries and shed light on the ways history- in some ways- is beginning to repeat itself.
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