Whoa. I don't believe this was ever covered in school. If it was, I don't remember it. But it should have been. It's hard to study the events that make your own country look bad. No one wants to think poorly of his own country. But at the same time, it does no one any good to ignore or forget those events either. They need to be studied just as much as the moments that make us proud.

"Scottsboro" follows the plight of 9 African-American youths wrongly accused and convicted of heinous crimes on flimsy evidence in 1930s Alabama. This injustice was done by the all-too-willing general public and specifically, the all-white juries that heard the case. I write "juries" because the case was appealed several times, each time coming back with convictions, despite the fact that no witness could be produced, no evidence could be presented, and contrary evidence and witnesses were provided! It speaks to the evil in men's hearts, to believe what you want to believe despite everything pointing to the contrary. It speaks of racism and bigotry and unwilling to let go of the past. African-Americans were "free" after the American Civil War ended, but by no means were their lives easy. They were still 2nd class citizens, and the treatment of these poor young men is "exhibit A."

The only redeeming part of this story is the fact that the "Scottsboro Nine" do eventually escape execution and gain their freedom, although it took several years and many appeals to do it. Much of their youth was spent languishing in prison for crimes they did not commit. American tragedy indeed. It begs the question, "if this could happen in America...?"

Four stars. A story that must be told, as embarrassing as it is for Americans. We must own up to our past to ensure we don't repeat it.

The Scottsboro incident caught my attention last year when I read a book on the subject. I was absolutely horrified and disgusted by the blatant racism, provincialism, and anti-semitism which grotesquely perverted justice in 1930's Alabama. Therefore, it was with great interest that I watched this documentary. It was exceptionally well done. I especially enjoyed the reading of the trial transcript while the film showed stills of the participants- the description of the cross-examination of Victoria Price, one of the accusers and an outrageous perjurer, by legendary defense attorney Samuel Leibowitz is gripping. Also the interviews with people who were actually present at the trial add alot of color to the film.

However, the documentary really does not go into great detail how the lengthy prison sentences these innocent men served ruined them. Although the film comments that Haywood Patterson, the most famous of the "boys," became a "creature" of the prison system it does not say in what way. The book I read went into detail how Patterson became a "wolf" in prison in order to survive. Patterson was known for assaulting other inmates, and he was greatly feared by the guards. He also became an aggressive prison rapist with his own "gal-boy." (It is ironic that Patterson was sent to prison for a rape he did not commit, and it was prison that actually turned him into a rapist.) Patterson went into prison as a tough but innocent young man, and he emerged as a vicious animal. I felt the film should have shown more of the horrifying consequences of this injustice, and really bring home the reality of the evils of racism and perjury.