Fear, Terror and Lynchings Lesson starter: Describe how Jim Crow Laws affected the lives of Black Americans. (5marks) You need five separate sentences with five separate points for full marks here.

Today we will… Understand what is meant by lynching Understand why it was difficult for Black Americans to find justice in the South

Lynching This word describes a variety of murders, tortures and punishments given to Black Americans. Usually carried out by mob action.

‘Lynch Law’ was when white people would decide that a Black person was guilty of a ‘crime’ and would then punish them There was no trial to decide who would be lynched – it was completely illegal Yet little was done to stop it

You will see some photographs of lynching. Take some notes on what you notice about the pictures. Think about Victims Onlookers locations

Characteristics of lynching Black victim Man/woman/child victim Public place Slow death i.e. hanging White crowd looking on (including women and children) Seen as a social occasion

Emmett Till 14 yr old boy visiting relatives in Mississippi He flirted with a white shop assistant Body found in Tallahatchie river with horrendous injuries Mother could not identify body All-White jury gave a non-guilty verdict

Why was there no justice for victims of lynching? Witness statements would be ‘lost’ or ignored Witnesses worried about reprisals All-white police force All-white juries in courts Many top lawyers and police were involved in the KKK Black people were almost always found guilty

The Scottsboro Boys An example of injustice Nine young men arrested for raping two white women on a train Eight of nine sentenced to death Little evidence Thousands of people went to protest at the trial One woman eventually retracted her statement Trials dragged on for years The case highlighted injustice for Black Americans