Scottsboro Boys Pardon Likely to be Signed This Week (In Scottsboro?) An Example of "White Guilt" or Republican Grandstanding?

{fair use-Gov Bentley's Face Book photo, cropped)

 

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley is likely to sign Scottsboro Boys Pardon this week in Scottsboro sources report.

Update Apr 13, 2013: Scottsboro's Daily Sentinel reports Gov. Bentley will be in Scottsboro Thursday, Apr. 18 to ceremoniously sign the bill. The local paper also reports Jesse Jackson may also be in town for the signing.

 

"Jeremy King, a spokesman for Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, said he expects the bill to be signed this week allowing the posthumous pardons, reversing convictions that became a symbol of racial injustice in a case that led to the end of black exclusion from juries in the South." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-08/alabama-pardons-scottsboro-boys-82-years-after-injustice.html

 

(photo, fair use - http://wowcatherine.tumblr.com/image/44615443692 )

 Director of the Scottsboro Boys Museum, Sheila Washington, announces introduction to the Scottsboro Boys Act at the Alabama Statehouse. Catherine Schreiber Productions blog: http://wowcatherine.tumblr.com/page/2  

 

Dr. Shelby Steele describes "white guilt": "Steele believes that the use of victimization is the greatest hindrance for black Americans. In his view, white Americans see blacks as victims to ease their guilty conscience, while blacks attempt to turn their status as victims into a kind of currency that will purchase nothing of real or lasting value. Therefore, he claims, blacks must stop "buying into this zero-sum game" by adopting a "culture of excellence and achievement" without relying on "set-asides and entitlements.^{" "} Steele, Shelby (2006-05-02). White Guilt: How Blacks and Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era. Harper Collins.  http://www.law.uc.edu/sites/default/files/fcj1.1.steele%20reviewed%20by%20ryan.pdf

About Dr. Steele, from Stanford University: http://www.hoover.org/fellows/10347

 

The question remains, what will the pardon act accomplish; does it create a race relations education program in the state; does it provide adequate criminal indigent defense funding? The answer is no.

http://arklite.blogspot.com/2012/12/watch-for-snakes-particularly-in-our.html

 

Alabama Republicans claim they know what is best for women: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/02/07/1552611/alabama-trap-laws/?mobile=nc

 

Will Alabama Republicans continue their efforts to destroy the Voting Rights Act and Public Education, the great equalizer, in Alabama?

Civil Rights Attorneys file suit to protect Voting Rights: http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/projects/voting_rights/page?id=0073

  

Photo Coverage: SCOTTSBORO BOYS Protesters Crash the Tonys

Photo of the Scottsboro Boys poster at the Lyceum, courtesy of L. Hodges.

BroadwayWorld.com link:  Photo Coverage: SCOTTSBORO BOYS Protesters Crash the Tonys

TonyAwards.com: http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/shows/2dfdd184-4ef1-45df-8c80-cff1bc9adb51.html 
Winners:  http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/index.html   

Black Star News: "Offensive Scottsboro Boys Should Fail At TONY- Competition is tough this week, thankfully, so “Scottsboro Boys” has little hope of winning any honors. “Scottsboro” does not stand a chance against “Sister Act,” also nominated for musical." http://blackstarnews.com/news/135/ARTICLE/7432/2011-06-09.html

Official Site of the Scottsboro Boys Musical,  Creative Team: http://scottsboromusical.com/creative.html
History, from the Scottsboro Boys Musical site: http://scottsboromusical.com/history.html

History of the Minstrel Show: http://black-face.com/minstrel-shows.htm  Black-face performers are, "...the filthy scum of white society, who have stolen from us a complexion denied them by nature, in which to make money, and pander to the corrupt taste of their white fellow citizens." -- Frederick Douglass

"Black-face is more than just burnt cork applied as makeup. It is a style of entertainment based on racist Black stereotypes that began in minstrel shows and continues to this day." A History: http://black-face.com/index.htm

"From controversy comes education for those willing to learn." GLM

Scottsboro Boys Play - West Coast,

Picture taken at Lyceum Theater, New York.

"Scottsboro Boys" play, west coast...The Old Globe - Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, San Diego-April 22-June 3, 2012 and American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco-June 19-July 15, 2012. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/150561-California-Bookings-of-Scottsboro-Boys-Confirmed-Seattle-Boston-Chicago-Being-Eyed  The article states: "The Scottsboro Boys tells the true story of nine black youths accused of raping two white women in the Depression-era South." The play "tells the true story," says the "Playbill" article, but their meaning of a "true story" is certainly different from my meaning of a true story.

The play is a modern minstrel depiction of one of the most tragic events in American legal history. The "Scottsboro Boys" play minstrel production does not tell the "true story" of this event which lasted for 45 years within the American justice system and destroyed the lives of the nine youths - beginning in March of 1931 and ending with the Pardon of Clarence Norris, "The Last of the Scottsboro Boys" in October 1976.

The "Scottsboro Boys" play is controversial in a positive way, it brings to light the historical significance of the Scottsboro Boys Trials. It cannot depict the sacrifice of African Americans subjected to a system of Jim Crow racial injustice nor depict the the sacrifice of blacks and whites united in a cause to see justice served. The play should spark an educational curiosity in the minds of the attendees and others to make an inquiry into the reality of Jim Crow Era America and why we can not afford to repeat the past mistakes of our history.

I wish all involved in the "Scottsboro Boys" play the best of luck in your west coast endeavor.

Travels To New York, "The Scottsboro Boys"

" Scottsboro Boys, Talk Back at the Lyceum." Ms. Sheila Washington-Director Scottsboro Boys Museum, Catherine Horton Garrett-Granddaughter of Judge Horton, Garry Morgan-Historian Scottsboro Boys Museum, Lecia Brooks-Curator Southern Poverty Law Center Museum along with the actors and local personalities discuss the case.

Catherine Schreiber, Producer-Catherine Schreiber Productions, upper left, many thanks to Ms. Schreiber for making this a most memorable event and for her support in the Scottsboro Boys Museum project.

Wednesday, Dec 8, 2010 Ms. Sheila Washington and myself traveled to New York City to see the Scottsboro Boys play and participate in the play "talk-back." Ms. Cathy Horton Garret, granddaughter of Judge Horton and Ms. Lecia Brooks, Curator of the Southern Poverty Law Center Museum joined us in New York. The Thursday night play was sold out, standing room only. At the plays end there was a standing ovation which lasted for several minutes.
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All of this was made possible by one of the producers of the Scottsboro Boys Show, Catherine Schreiber. The "show" brought us to New York for the Thursday evening "Talk-back Session" after the musical performance. http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/momsandthecity/2010/12/broadway.html Many thanks to Mrs. Schreiber for her work, a memorable experiance in which we have made new friends.

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We participated in a "talk back" after the play Thursday night, discussing the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center. Video's of the talk back...

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Stage Rush Review of the Talk Back: http://www.stage-rush.com/2010/12/scottsboro-boys-talkback/

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The play closed Sunday Dec 12, 2010 at the Lyceum Theater. http://www.facebook.com/ScottsboroBoys

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Photo's before and after the event may be viewed at Catherine Schreiber's Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/album.php?aid=79839&id=1615233330 .

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The Lyceum Theater is New York's oldest theater, it has a Baroque design, opening in 1903 it is also the first to be a historic landmark . http://www.newyorkcitytheatre.com/theaters/lyceumtheater/history.php http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/MID111.htm

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There was earlier controversy and protest in New York concerning the minstrel portrayal of the case relating to such a serious matter. The Scottsboro Boys Museum staff reply then and now, "out of controversy comes the opportunity for education and further opportunity to address the issue of racism, part of our mission for the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0LUeDPeZcg&feature=player_embedded

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None of us, after seeing the play, believe this play is a negative portrayal of African American History. The play utilized dramatic license to emphasize a point in our history which was reflective of Jim Crow America and the struggles of African Americans in our nation. The minstrel show was a segment of early 20th century African American history.

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One of the most brilliant parts of the play and the plays last scene was the portrayal of Rosa Parks sitting on the front of the bus, being told to sit in the back, the bus driver says, "you can't sit here," her reply was, " I think I'll stay right here and rest my weary feet," the stage darkened and the show ended. A most brilliant ending to the show. Ms. Rosa Parks related in her biography, the "Scottsboro Boys" gave her the courage to take action.

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We have suggested to Mrs. Schreiber she should bring the show to the south, to include Scottsboro (maybe The Lyceum at Northeast College), Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, Atlanta, Chattanooga, etc. Their travel to Jackson County Alabama and the southern states is a very real possibility.

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Catherine, many thanks for this opportunity, we have made new friends and look forward to meeting once again.

Protest of the Scottsboro Boys Play

Some members of the African American Community do not appreciate the minstrel show. " The Scottsboro Boys case is not humorous...never give up...this is what the Freedom Party is about!"

Many valid points are made in the protest. I recommend this video, another side of the story.



Where is the humor in a miscarriage of justice? Out of controversy an awareness is created, discussion is stimulated and education may be acquired for those who have an open mind.

Scottsboro Boys Museum Wins Grants

Daily Sentinel Story: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_7b3809c2-d8e4-11df-95ac-001cc4c002e0.html

Link: Ala. Scottsboro Boys museum wins grants


 

http://scottsboromusical.com/history.html

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More links to story:http://blog.al.com/wire/2010/10/scotttsboro_boys_museum_wins_5.html
http://www.waaytv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13316341

The "Scottsboro Boys" recording by Leadbelly

 

Scottsboro Boys Play Travels to Broadway

"Following a spring world-premiere run at Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre, the new John Kander-Fred Ebb-David Thompson musical The Scottsboro Boys is currently playing a pre-Broadway engagement at Minnesota’s Guthrie prior to its Oct. 7 bow at the Lyceum Theatre," on Broadway. http://www.playbill.com/playblog/2010/10/a-cover-story-the-scottsboro-boys/

On stage at the Guthrie with Gregg Huff: http://www.mnsun.com/web_tv/?evpvid=16595 "Broadway bound "Scottsboro Boys" entertains, educates and touches the soul."

"In conversation with John Kander."

Scottsboro Boys Play at the Vineyard Theater

Vineyard Theater Play Bill, an original may be seen at the Scottsboro Boys Museum signed by cast members of the play.

Currently playing at the Vineyard Theater is the controversial play about the Scottsboro Boys Case. This is a minstrel style musical, for more information go to http://www.vineyardtheatre.org/show-the-scottsboro-boys.html . Information about the play at the Lyceum Theater begining in October of 2010 http://www.scottsboromusical.com/ .

"The Scottsboro Boys" Play Review and Pictures by the New York Times

Theater Slide Show: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/03/11/theater/20100311_SCOTTSBORO_SLIDESHOW_index.html

New York Times Theater Review by Bob Brantley on John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical, The Scottsboro Boys: http://theater.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/theater/reviews/11scottsboro.html