The Scottsboro Boys Trials (1931-1937)
- An historical event of the 1930s--The Scottsboro Boys Trials--provides another means to address the influence of various forms of media on an historical event. Students have the opportunity to read primary source materials--periodicals and documents--from the trial that reveal the differing viewpoints on what occurred depending on the bias of the news source. Prof. Douglas Linder, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, "The Scottsboro Boys" Trials 1931 – 1937, from Famous Trials website, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and PBS’s American Experience segment on the trials both provide an assortment of historical documents, including letters, photographs, trial transcripts, quotations, etc.
- The collection of The Wolfsonian-FIU is also a rich resource for historical images and articles, particularly of The Labor Defender periodical produced by the International Labor Defense.
- After completing their research, students may write editorials, letters to the editors, or write scripts and stage news reports using the skills their learned in the previous projects.
