The Man from Scottsboro: Clarence Norris and the Infamous 1931 Alabama Rape Trial, in His Own Words [Hardcover]

Kwando Mbiassi Kinshasa (Author), Clarence Norris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1997

The one day trial of Clarence Norris and the other eight "Scottsboro Boys" resulted in their conviction and the death sentence despite a paucity of evidence. Though he was later pardoned, Norris spent 13 years in jail. (He died in 1989.) Norris's description of his arrest, trial and sentencing is both tragic and inspirational.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Clarence Norris was one of the "Scottsboro boys"--the eight young black men who were charged, convicted, and sentenced to death for raping two white women in 1931 in Alabama. The case became famous as an example of the pernicious racism that permeated the American culture and the judicial system at the time. Kinshasa, a professor of African American studies, spent more than a year interviewing Norris and collecting newspaper accounts and original correspondence from the period for this stunning examination. Norris' first-person account is interspersed with Kinshasa's analysis of the social mores and judicial practices that resulted in the conviction of eight black youths who were thrown together by circumstance when they traveled the South as hoboes looking for work. Although there was little evidence, and one of the alleged victims later recanted her testimony, Norris spent 13 years in prison. He recalls the contentious rivalry between the communist International League Defense and the NAACP in defending the eight men, the relationships among the Scottsboro boys, and the incredible cruelty of the prison system. In this previously unpublished, electrifying interview, Norris also outlines his philosophy for surviving the Scottsboro ordeal as well as more contemporary racial ordeals. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"an eclectic combination of oral history, historical commentary, and historical documents" -- Journal of Southern History

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 231 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (February 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786402768
• ISBN-13: 978-0786402762
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,583,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NON-RACIAL REVIEW, January 28, 2000

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AISHA (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Man from Scottsboro: Clarence Norris and the Infamous 1931 Alabama Rape Trial, in His Own Words (Hardcover)

I ENJOYED READING THIS BOOK. THE AUTHOR DID A GOOD JOB OF NOT COMING FROM ONE SPECIFIC RACIALLY MOTIVSTED POINT OF VIEW. HE TRIED TTO SHOW BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY BUT TO TELL MR. NORRI'S STORY AS WELL.