Haywood Patterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Haywood Patterson
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| Born | December 12, 1912 |
| Died | August 24, 1952 (aged 39) |
| Nationality | African-American |
| Known for | One of the nine members of the Scottsboro Boys |
Haywood Patterson (born December 12, 1912 – died August 24, 1952) was one of the Scottsboro Boys. This was a group of nine young African-American men who were falsely accused of a serious crime in 1931. Haywood Patterson wrote a book about his difficult experiences called Scottsboro Boy.
Haywood Patterson was a teenager when he and eight other young Black men were accused of a crime on a train in Alabama in 1931. This event became known as the Scottsboro Boys case. It was a very famous and unfair trial in American history.
The Scottsboro Case
The Scottsboro Boys were accused of a crime they did not commit. This happened during a time when racial prejudice was very strong in parts of the United States. Even though there was little evidence against them, and one of the accusers later said they lied, the young men faced unfair trials.
Haywood Patterson was sentenced to death three times. However, his lawyers fought these decisions. After many appeals (asking a higher court to review the case) and retrials (new trials), his sentence was changed. He was eventually sentenced to 75 years in prison.
Life After Prison
In 1948, Haywood Patterson managed to escape from prison. He traveled to Detroit, Michigan, to start a new life. A few years later, the FBI arrested him. But he was not sent back to Alabama.
Later, Haywood Patterson was involved in an incident that led to him being sent to prison again. He died in prison from cancer when he was 39 years old.
A Posthumous Pardon
Many years after his death, in 2013, the state of Alabama officially pardoned Haywood Patterson. A pardon means that the state forgives a person for a crime, even if they were found guilty. This pardon happened after he had died, which is called a "posthumous" pardon.
Two other Scottsboro Boys, Charles Weems and Andy Wright, were also pardoned at the same time. These three men were the last of the Scottsboro Boys whose convictions had not been overturned or pardoned. This act helped to correct a long-standing injustice.
In Popular Culture
The story of the Scottsboro Boys has been told in many ways. An actor named Joshua Henry played Haywood Patterson in the original Broadway musical called The Scottsboro Boys. This musical helps people learn about this important part of history.
Resources
- "Long Journey." Time Magazine Published 10 July 1950. Accessed 30 April 2008.
