Attend a fascinating community dialogue at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center this Monday!

The “Scottsboro Boys: American Tragedy Community Dialogue” is planned for Monday, February 13 from 6 to 8 pm. This event is hosted by Arizona State University’s Center for the Study of Race & Democracy, and will highlight the infamous story and trial of the nine “Scottsboro Boys.”

In 1931, nine African American teenagers were falsely accused of assaulting two white women on a Tennessee train, a crime that never happened. In this time of segregation and racism, eight of the nine boys were sentenced to death following rushed trials and poor representation. This tragedy of wrongful convictions and injustice remains a painful memory for underrepresented communities in the nation.

Coming this spring, Phoenix Theatre and The Black Theatre Troupe will bring this powerful story to the stage in April 2017 with the Tony nominated production, “The Scottsboro Boys.” As a preview of the show, the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy will host a dynamic community dialogue exploring this monumental case and providing a social critique, bringing awareness to issues that still impact American society today. This program will engage the community in a valuable discussion, and both the ASU Community and the public are welcome to attend this free event.