Tom Robinson's Trial

Topeka, Kansas, 1950, a young African-American girl named Linda Brown had to walk a mile to get to her school, crossing a railroad switchyard. She lived seven blocks from an all white school. Linda’s father, Oliver, tried to enroll her into the all white school. The school denied her because of the color of her skin. Segregation was widespread throughout our nation. Blacks believed that the “separate but equal” saying was false. They felt that whites had more educational opportunities. Mr. Brown, along with the NAACP and many civic leaders, fought for equal educational rights for all races. Brown v. The Board of Education case and the events leading up to it had a positive effect on education and society.

Brown v. The Board of Education was one of the most critical Supreme Court cases in history, defying the social structure of the country, challenging the law, and sparking a revolution. Its decision made on May 17, 1954 stated that “separate facilities are inherently unequal” which granted victory to Oliver Brown. This Supreme Court case deemed the declaration of state laws to separate public schools for whites and colored to be unconstitutional, but there was nothing the court could do to prevent racism towards the minorities. Although the government could integrate the schools, there was nothing the government could do to eliminate the racism that creeped the streets of our nation. This ruling was extremely controversial,

Board of Education case affected numerous other comparative cases as Mr. Brown's and on history itself. This case cased many individuals to see that the divisions between trainings was futile and did not help the student's instruction. Public places were segregated in the 1950s. African Americans were not permitted to go to a school or even attend any school event enhabited with white children. Plenty of black children had to travel long distances to get to their destination. Some walked miles, all the way across town in order to get to school. Parents like Linda Brown knew that this was not right and needed to change how the school system was operated. In Topeka, Kansas, an African American third grade girl had to walk very far to get to her school. Her father also knew things should change and went to court with many other black parents about the way the U.S District court was

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896, which allowed state-sponsored segregation, insofar as it applied to public education. Handed down on May 17, 1954, the Warren Court 's unanimous (9–0) decision stated that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." As a result, de jure racial segregation was ruled a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. This ruling paved the way for integration and was a major victory of the Civil Rights Movement.[1] However, the decision 's fourteen pages did not spell out any sort of method for ending racial segregation in schools, and the Court 's second decision in Brown II only ordered states to desegregate "with all deliberate speed".

One event that had an impact was the Brown VS Topeka board of education case 1954 which was the first case to challenge segregation in Kansas. Linda brown had to go to an African American only school and was not allowed to attend the local neighbourhood school despite her parents wanting her to. Linda Browns parents went to court backed up by their local NAACP lawyers who expressed in court evidence which showed that separate education created low self-esteem and was psychologically harmful. The National Association for the advancement of Coloured People (The NAACP) who were a group lead by black intellectuals aimed to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority group citizens of United States and eliminate race prejudice. They also stated that there was evidence that the educational achievement of students was restricted because of this policy. The case took 18 months and on 17th may 1954, a closing judgement was reached where Chief Justice Warren said that 'separate but equal has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.' Although a clear conclusion wasn't reached, some areas began to desegregate and by 1957, 300,000 black children were attending schools that had formerly been

Looking back at history we find that many trial cases have been unsolved, one in particular being the William Robinson case which took place in Salt Spring Island British Columbia in 1868. The death of William Robinson, a black man, resulted in the conviction and inherent execution of a Native man named Tshuanahusset (trial name “Tom”). The trial and thereafter death of “Tom” has caused much controversy in historical studies. With many different stories and recollections of said crime it was hard to say what actually happened during 1868 other than “Tom” being convicted as guilty of murder. I am here to prove that based on circumstantial evidence that the evidence that was provided against “Tom” does not beyond a reasonable doubt prove he was

In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson, the black man falsely convicted of rape, had absolutely no chance of a fair trial. There is proof of this in the time period in which it occurred as well as evidence from the novel itself. Tom Robinson had an unfair trial because it was his word against the Ewell’s, a white, trashy family.

From the article “Former Pediatrician Appeals ‘Waterboarding’ Conviction”, Melvin Morse, a former pediatrician, did not get a fair trial. Similarly, Tom Robinson from To Kill a Mockingbird also did not get a fair trial. A fair trial is a courtroom with an unprejudiced jury that listens to both sides of the situation without being biased. It’s a place where everyone is treated equally despite their looks and race. However, the prejudicial jury knew Tom Robinson is guilty before the trial begins. The jury judge Tom Robinson base on his looks and skin color instead of judging him on his statements. If a white person places himself in Tom Robinson’s shoes, they will realize Robinson is just like them, and he should not be treated like an animal.

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson has been accused of beating and raping Mayella Ewell. Tom was married and has three kids. He works for Link Deas picking cotton, pecans, and doing work around the yard for him. Tom acquired an injury one day in Mr. Dolphus Raymond’s cotton gin when he was little. Tom passes by the Ewell place every day to get to work. Tom is put on trial for his life because the claim made by the Ewells of rape. The case is basically the Ewell’s word verses Toms. During the case Mayella slips up on what really happen. Because of the type of injury Tom has, Mayella’s slips up on the stand, and the fact that Tom was already married, the jury should acquit Tom- finding him not guilty.

I think it was right for Atticus to take a stand for Tom Robinson because Atticus was trying to teach Jem and Scout to be wise, and to not be racist, because he didn’t want to put his kids in danger. Tom Robinson didn’t have the capability to stand up for himself. Tom Robinson was the kind of man who was too afraid of people because he was afraid that he was going to end up in jail or end up in a trial. If Atticus wouldn’t have helped Tom Robinson with the case, then Tom Robinson would most likely be put in jail permanently. What’s really good about Atticus is that he will do what he thinks is right even if other people disagree with him, “Yeah but Atticus aims to defend him, that’s what I don’t like about it” (Lee 218).

Everyone is unique in some sort of way, everyone one has their own advantages and disadvantages. In Harper Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird she describes how mockingbirds are innocent creatures who each have their own unique song. The moral of the story is that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird so in that case it is a sin to kill someone who is innocent. Three characters from the book that have their own unique way of singing their own song are Atticus, Tom Robinson and Jem. In the story Atticus plays the role of a lawyer and has two kids named Scout and Jem.

Rape racism and a town murder are just a few of the chilling events that occurred in the town of Maycomb. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout, Jem and Dill learn, that people don't always feel the same way about somethings.

Imagine being accused of a crime you didn’t commit, your entire town thinking you’re a criminal, what would you do? Tom Robinson, a fictional character from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, was accused of raping a white girl. He was accused for being an African American. “You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them” (Atticus 25). In life things aren’t always as they seem.

“Has the jury reached a verdict?” asked Judge Taylor as the jury returned to the courtroom after their long absence. Someone I didn’t recognize in the jury stood up and poised himself to speak.

There were several legal issues present before and during this particular case that prevented any sort of a fair trial from taking place. The largest legal issue that can be seen in the demise of Tom’s true innocence, sometimes blatantly, is that of perjury. The definition of perjuring oneself is “to make false or misleading statements under oath”, or basically lying when you have promised to tell the truth. As I stated earlier, this lack of honesty can truly break down the integrity of the justice system, because it is built on gaining facts and building an accurate picture of the case currently being tried. If everyone were to lie and tell their own story about what had taken place, we would never be able to put the puzzle together and allow the jury to fairly judge the defendant. And albeit the trial of Tom Robinson was never to be tried in a just and unquestionable manner, the further lies made by those that testified made it even harder for Atticus to prove innocence.