Much has been said about the Scottsboro case, even more has been written about this ignominious affair. Every child who is old enough to read the newspaper or strong enough to sit beside his parents at church, has either read the details or heard them discussed over and over again. To outline the case here would be an unpardonable repitition.
There is another case however that has not reached the courts; the newspapers do not feature it; it is not outlined before groups in mass meetings. The case is known as the "Charlottesville Case"; no quite as spectacular as the first-mentioned case but most assuredly as serious and far more pathetic.
We have in our midst, hundreds of young men and women, growing into manhood and womanhood, without the slightest idea of their civil rights. We have also, hundreds and hundreds of matured citizens, who have lived these many years without putting forth the least show of effort to demand certain rights as American Citizens. For instance, there are a certain group of unfortunates who receive baskets at Christmas time and get by as best they can the other three hundred and sixty four days. Our streets are mudholes, occasionally graced by a load of cinders and fine rock. The newly acquired park is a wilderness with not a single attraction save the beautiful trees and the untiring efforts of Mrs. Cora B. Duke. Yet, we remain content with our conditions and dare become indignant over the Scottsboro affair. Several meetings have been held in interest of that case, now, when shall we meet to adopt a program that will better local conditions?
The Scottsboro boys should have our sympathy, and also such financial assistance as we are able to donate, but organization and financial aid in interest of that case before this Charlottesville case is even considered, strikes us as an example of poor judgement, and compel us to believe that maybe the desire for "personal glory" is playing a hand, for the "Charlottesville case" is just as serious and far more pathetic than the Scottsboro case, but we admit, not as spectacular, therefore not promising as much interest and the same degree of publicity.