1921-1938

Great Depression

In 1929, the Great Depression destroyed the U.S. economy. Everybody was greatly affected, especially rural blacks. Cotton prices went down and black farmers were put into debt. People thought that white men should get jobs before people employed the "niggers." In Mississippi, several unemployed white men, seeking train jobs, killed and ambushed black workers.

Scottsboro Case

During the 1930's, the worlds attention was directed on the "Scottsboro boys." The Scottsboro boys were mine black men falsely charged with raping two white women in Alabama. This case started when a number of white and black men were riding on a train to find work. A group of white and black hobos got into a fight and the whites were thrown off the train. Two white women were found riding on the train. Although there was no evidence the black men did it, the nine men were charged with raping the women.