Letter from Norma H. Hargrave in Jacksonville, Florida, to Governor.

Dublin Core

Title

Letter from Norma H. Hargrave in Jacksonville, Florida, to Governor.

Subject

Scottsboro Trial, Scottsboro, Ala., 1931; African Americans--Civil rights--Alabama; African Americans--Imprisonment--Alabama; Miller, Benjamin Meek, 1864-1944; Christianity

Description

Inspired by a religious dream, Norma H. Hargrave begs Governor Miller in God's name not to persecute the Scottsboro Boys unless he is absolutely positive of their guilt. She describes her dream, and asks him to examine his conscience to make sure that justice has been given.

Creator

Hargrave, Norma H.

Source

Alabama Governor, Scottsboro Case appeals to the Governor, SG004235, Folder 6, Alabama Dept. of Archives and History

Date

1931-07-15

Format

Letter

Language

English

Coverage

United States--Florida--Jacksonville

Text Item Type Metadata

Transcription


Scottsboro
South Jax, Fla.
Dear Governor:
I know God. I have tried Him out and I find Him to be
real. I believe every word of His. I even believe that about His
taking note of every strand of hair in our heads and His noting the
fall of the sparrow. I certainly believe what he says about our
reaping what we sow. Above all things I believe he hears the
prayers of the humble.

Unless you are dead sure about the guilt of every one of those boys,
I beg in His name and in the eternal well being of your self and
those who come after you not to persecute those youths though they
are not of our people. Now you know and God knows. Don't kick
against the prick. Do not tempt the patience of God. Earnest
prayers are going up every day and God's ears are open.

I am white and southern just like you are but somehow last night I
was urged by something within to get this over to you. This in spite
of the fact that I know very little of this case. I dreamed first
that I saw in the prison the electric chair and a thrill of horror
shook me. The some one in my dream told me this was the torture of
those black boys day and night. "Tell the governor that God is not
mocked; what soever a man soweth that shall He also reap" that "even
he is in God's hands that he has many ways of sending retribution".
With my awaking came an over powering urge. Examine your conscience.
Remember that you can not go up against His power. I beg that you do
not harden your neck. The penalty will surely come. I tell you they
are praying. I was told this in the same dream. I assure you that I
do not believe in dreams but there was something so overwhelmingly
real and different about this. Please, are you sure that justice has
been given? Are you sure that you have treated them as you would
expect your own children to be treated? As you would stand for a
groupe of our own lads to be treated? THINK'

yours in His name,
Norma H. Hargrave.