Scottsboro Boy

by Haywood Patterson, Earl Conrad

1st edition. Doubleday, 1950. The book is like new, with the exception of foxing spots along board edges. The Dust jacket has a bit of foxing on the rear top flap edge, light soiling to rear panel, rubbing along edges, and some very minor chips at corners. The DJ is protected with a Brodart cover.

Genres: Nonfiction

324 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1899

Reviews

[Call Me Cordelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should not be an obscure book that is difficult to find! As the tagline states, it is "the story that America wanted to forget." Indeed, America did forget. Since starting this book a month ago, I've talked with at least a dozen people about it and over half had no idea who the Scottsboro Boys were, much less the tragically unfair and inhumane treatment they received for decades.

There were 9 Scottsboro Boys and this book is the story of one of them, Haywood Patterson, in his own words.

Haywood was 18 years old when, in 1931, he was falsely accused of raping two white women after being involved in a fight between 8 other Black teenagers and some White teenagers. He and other 8 Black teens were also convicted and sentenced to death or life in prison. He spent over half of his life in prison before finally escaping in 1949.

In 1950, he and Earl Conrad (an accomplished author and journalist) write this autobiography together. The majority of the book concerns Haywood's life in some of the worst prisons of the South. He does not mince words, try to blur details, or massage the truth. It is a hard look at an equally hard life behind bars -- a hard life that was made even more dangerous due not only to the color of his skin, but because of his stigma as a "Scottsboro Boy."

I believe this is a must read for everyone. No one -- especially no American -- should be ignorant of this travesty of injustice so that they can compare it to eerily similar contemporary accounts that prove the United States is not as progressive nor as devoted to the idea that "all men are created equal."

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written in collaboration with my great uncle, Earl Conrad, of whom I'm quite proud. The story goes that after Patterson's escape from prison, while he was underground, he stayed with Conrad in his Auburn apartment and together they wrote the book. This book exposes, first-hand from the victim, the extreme injustice of the Scottsboro case, especially Haywood Patterson's personal trials. However, much of the book is a very detailed account of Patterson's horrible experiences in the unjust and racist Alabama Prison System. I'd say the best part is when he escapes and his extremely smart, rational and risky methods for achieving freedom. However, while the description of prison life is quite stomach wrenching, the whole book deserves way more attention than it's gotten and provides valuable insight into the distance our country's prison economy has come, and how far it still needs to go.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

An insightful look into the history of the early 20th century American deep south.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I waited a very long time to get hold of a copy of this book, authoured by Haywood PATTERSON (with Earl Conrad). Haywood was one of nine Negro boys arrested at Paint Rock, Alabama in 1931 for the alleged rape of 2 white girls. He was tried in Alabama 4 times and 3x sentenced to death, finally commuted to 75 years in prison (life), some of which he served, before his final breath-taking escape in 1948. He was caught by the FBI in Michigan but the state governor refused his deportation to Alabama. This autobiography was published in 1951 but soon after he was involved in a bar room fight, resulting in a stabbing death. His first trial ended in a hung jury; the second was a mistrial. After his third trial, he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six to fifteen years. He served only one, as he died of cancer in jail on August 24, 1952. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haywood...)
The book is a real challenge on social justice, law enforcement, jury trials, prison life - although it is a carefully researched account, Haywood's story can not leave you unmoved or uninformed.

[Rita]

1950

The tiny NE Alabaman town of Scottsboro now has a small museum dedicated to the injustice done to the Scottsboro boys, thanks to the efforts of resident Sheila Washington.
See NYT article 26 Feb 2021: "Sheila Washington Dies at 61; Helped Exonerate Scottsboro Boys"

MArie writes on goodreads:
"I waited a very long time to get hold of a copy of this book, authored by Haywood PATTERSON (with Earl Conrad). Haywood was one of nine Negro boys arrested at Paint Rock, Alabama in 1931 for the alleged rape of 2 white girls. He was tried in Alabama 4 times and 3x sentenced to death, finally commuted to 75 years in prison (life), some of which he served, before his final breath-taking escape in 1948. He was caught by the FBI in Michigan but the state governor refused his deportation to Alabama. This autobiography was published in 1951 but soon after he was involved in a bar room fight, resulting in a stabbing death. His first trial ended in a hung jury; the second was a mistrial. After his third trial, he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six to fifteen years. He served only one, as he died of cancer in jail on August 24, 1952. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haywood...)
The book is a real challenge on social justice, law enforcement, jury trials, prison life - although it is a carefully researched account, Haywood's story can not leave you unmoved or uninformed."

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haywood Patterson was one of the famous Scottsboro Boys, all of whom were charged and convicted of rape in Alabama in the 1930s. The boys were all black and charged and convicted of raping two white women. The book details the events of the "crime" and life of Haywood Patterson including all the brutal treatment of him (and other African Americans) in Alabama's horrible prison system. This book moved me and enlightened me in so many ways.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading it will give you a look at the racism that blacks faced in the 30's and 40's. To think that 9 men were thrown in jail because of a lie and left there is repulsive. I enjoyed reading it and will read it again in the future.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

tough to read, sad

[Billy Stoneking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning writing - unforgettable character.