Haywood Patterson: Scottsboro Boy

Audience

Scottsboro Boy was aimed primarily at the supporters of civil rights and the Scottsboro boys throughout their struggle, giving this group a firsthand account of what happened. Secondarily, the book addressed all those who were simply interested in learning more about the case. There also was a third audience, in Patterson’s view—anyone interested in paying for the book. This is not to suggest that Patterson was more mercenary than other people who sell their life stories but just that he had spent the better part of two decades behind bars and had very few marketable skills. The only tangible asset he had was his story, and he needed to sell it to live.