Historical background V2.0

Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was a series of nonviolent movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination of African Americans and granting all Americans full and equal rights.

A few examples: Brown v. Board of Education case, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Desegregating Little Rock. The Brown v. Board of Education was a court case regarding the segregation of black and white children into different schools, which ended in the Negro children being allowed to share the same education facilities as white children. The Montgomery Bus Boycott started when a black woman, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, resulting in her being arrested and tried, and a majority of African Americans boycotting the Montgomery Bus services and demanding a more humane transport system. As a result, the court ordered Montgomery buses to be desegregated, thus ending the boycott. The Desegregation of Little Rock happened when nine African American students entered the integrated Little Rock Central High School, and were harassed by the other white students as a result of the racial tension and supposed white supreriority. The incident ultimately ended with the whole education system of Little Rock being desegregated.

The Civil Rights Movement was supported by President John F. Kennedy. The ultimate outcome was racial discrimination being banned and African Americans being granted franchise. The novel was written at about the same period when the Movement was taking place, and reflects the social injustice found in the southern states, and allows readers to sympathise with the unfairly treated African Americans.

Montgomery Bus boycott and Scottsboro trials
Montgomery Bus boycott- On 1 December 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, and was arrested, tried, and convicted. In response, African American leaders organised the Montgomery Bus boycott, and appoint Martin Luther King as President of the Montgomery Improvement Association, the organisation directing the boycott. A majority of African Americans joined the boycott, with both the MIA and the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People demanding for the full desegregation of all public buses. The boycott lasted more than a year, enough to cause bus revenue to drop drastically, resulting in economic distress. The court gave in and ordered the Montgomery buses desegregated, and the boycott finally ended.

Scottsboro trials- On March 25, 1931, nine African American youths board a freight train with several white males and two white women, Victoria Price and Ruby Bates. A fight began between the two black and white groups, and the white males were kicked off the train. The black boys were arrested for assault by a posse that had orders to "capture every negro on the train". The African American youths were imprisoned in Scottsboro, Alabama, and thus were nicknamed the Scottsboro Boys. The two alleged victims of rape accused the black youths of raping them at knifepoint, along with the possession of a gun. A doctor examined Price and Bates, and reported that they showed no sign of having been raped. Samuel Leibowitz was called in as defence attorney for the youths, and worked on the case without charging them fees. In the first trial most of the youths were found guilty and sentenced to death, but an appeal provided them with a second chance. In the second trial, Bates confesed that she and Price had made up the whole story of rape, but Price maintained her original testimony. However, two of the boys, Patterson and Norris were given a guilty verdict and sentenced to death. The Supreme Court found the trials unjust and demanded a retrial. The judge halted Patterson's retrial and went on with the trials of the other boys. After a series of trials, most of the Scotssboro boys were sent to prison.

The trials have much in common with the trial of Tom Robinson in the novel. Both trials were in the 1930s and took place in Alabama. Both have a protagonist who goes against public sentiments while fighting against racial discrimination and defend African Americans, who were unjustly accused of raping white women. The all-white juries also ignored evidence, such as Tom Robinson's useless left arm and that the women suffered no injuries.

Trials of a true Southern Belle and Southern Gentleman
a. What were the rules of etiquette for Southern gentlemen and ladies?
Southern belle:
-proper etiquette
-penmanship
-ballroom dancing
Southern Gentleman
-humility
-respect
b. What did southern ladies do to pass their time (hobbies etc)?
Helping the community and schools
c. Pictures of Southern ladies and gentlemen.

d. Identify characters in the novel that fit the mould of true southern belles and gentlemen and those who don’t. Explain why they fit the mould and why they don’t.
Southern Gentleman :
Atticus- gentleman, believes in equality(humility), has proper etiquette.
NOT! :
Bob ewell- barbaric, uncouth, discriminates blacks.
Harper Lee
a. About the author
She was an avid reader and was only 6 when the scottboro trials took place.
She was well known on campus as editor of the politcially satirical student newspaper, graduated from the university and entered law school, leaving one semester short of receiving a law degree
b. Biodata
Grew up in 1930s - rural southern Alabama town.
Father - Amasa Lee - attorney who served in state legislature in Alabama.
Older brother and young neighbor (Truman Capote) are playmates.
c. Novels written by her
• -to kill a mocking bird
• Love—In Other Words". (April 15, 1961)
• "Christmas to Me". (December 1961)
• "When Children Discover America". (August 1965)
• "Romance and High Adventure "

d. Awards received
New York Times Best Seller list, it received five Academy Award nominations, winning three.
e. Why was TKAM a significant novel to her?
It was a time of tumultuous events and racial strife as the struggle in the Civil Rights movement grew violent and spread into cities across the nation, and into the American awareness on TV screens and the