Scottsboro vs.

Maycomb and the “Great Levelers”

Part I: ​Complete the chart below comparing the trials of the Scottsboro nine to the trial in Harper Lee’s novel.

Scottsboro: An American Tragedy To Kill a Mockingbird

PBS Documentary Novel by Harper Lee

Prevailing attitudes In the documentary, it does show There is a lot of racist terminologies used
toward African prevailing attitudes toward African in the novel and it just shows the kind of
Americans. Americans because they were accused of attitude that was shown to African
a lot of crimes due to their race. Americans at that time as well.

Who is the lawyer? A real estate from Tennessee takes the Atticus is the lawyer and he takes the
Why do they take the case and he was paid $60 to do it. case because he wants to help the most
controversial case? vulnerable people since a lot of people do
not believe in them.

Who are the accusers? Victoria Price and Ruby Bates accused Maya Ewell.
the Scottsboro boys.

Who is accused? 9 African American teenagers boys who Tom Robinson is accused.
range from 13 to 19 years old.

What are they accused They are falsely accused of raping two Tom Robinson was accused of raping
of? women (Ruby Bates and Victoria Price). and beating Mayella Ewell.

What is the verdict? The verdict was that they were found Tom is to be found guilty of the
guilty. accusations with Mayella Ewell.

What is the ultimate They overturned the false accusations of Atticus’s efforts proved his innocence
outcome? the boys. but he was still found guilty due to racial
bias.

Part II:​ ​Atticus believes that progress towards racial equality can and will be made in the courtroom.
However, both historical and fictional trials help readers to understand this is not always the case.​ In
his closing statements, ​Atticus​ speaks about the integrity of the courts when he refers to them as the
"​great levelers​.” He means that in the courts, every man should be able to perform on a "level playing
field,” and have a fair chance of winning. ​Is Atticus correct when he says the “courts are the great
levelers”? Explain the extent to which you agree or disagree with Atticus’s statement through the
completion of a 2-chunk body paragraph.
(Part II continues on the next page)

2-Chunk Body Paragraph Structure

(You may type your paragraph directly into this chart if you find it to be helpful. Otherwise,
feel free to delete the chart, or provide your response below it)

Topic As Atticus states that the “courts are the great levelers” he is suggesting that all
Sentence American courts are made to have fair, equal trials, which is correct, but I
disagree with that statement, using the argument of how they handled Tom
Robinson’s case.
Lead into a The ending of Atticus’s statement continues with, “and in our courts all men
Concrete are created equal” (Lee 233).
Detail
(direct quote,
paraphrase, or
summary)

Commentary With Atticus stating that all men are created equal, he is trying to convince the
jury that this case should not be as difficult as it is, since points of being
innocent have been proven, but they are using racial bias against him.
Commentary This demonstrates how Atticus’s statement is incorrect as the accusations of
rape have been proven false medically, but the jury displays the use of racism,
by giving a guilty conviction anyway. This should not be the way a case
concludes in a courtroom because Robinson should have been treated like any
other defendant.
Lead into a I do agree with how the court provides equality for each defendant they
Concrete encounter, however, with Tom Robinson’s case, they were biased and
Detail
(direct quote,
unjustified.
paraphrase, or
summary)

Commentary Sadly, the jury acted this way because back in those times, a black man
accused of an awful act towards a white woman like, such as in this story, he
would have no power of defending himself.
Commentary With being supported and helped by Atticus, who made very exceptional
points that brought him innocence towards the accusation, he was still found
guilty in the eyes of the jury that was comprised of all-white members.
Concluding The unequal opportunity given to Tom Robinson helps argue Atticus’s
Sentence statement, as the courts were not the “great levelers” in this case, but rather
allowed an innocent man to be unjustly accused, most likely due to his race.