In 1919, a labor union of Black sharecroppers met at a church in Hoop Spur, Arkansas, to fight for fair prices for their crops. Carloads of white men drove up, began shooting at the group of Black men, women, and children, and then set fire to the church. One white man was killed, so local officials called upon white men in surrounding counties to “defend” the town against Black “insurrectionists.” This led to a massacre (originally labeled a “race riot”) in the area, and resulted in the deaths of 200 Black people and five white men. The 12 Black men who had attended the meeting were arrested, charged with murder, and sentenced to death in a sham trial by the “Committee of Seven,” a group of powerful local white men. Scipio Jones, a Black lawyer, took up their cases, and fought for years on their behalf, ultimately successfully arguing one of the cases all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The meticulously researched account of an important historical event and the unsung hero, Scipio Jones, will resonate with today’s readers, underscoring how little some things have changed. A clean design and numerous black-and-white photographs help to make this compelling story accessible. (Age 12 and older)

In this key civil rights and social justice book for young readers, Scipio Africanus Jones—a self-taught attorney who was born enslaved—leads a momentous series of court cases to save twelve Black men who'd been unjustly sentenced to death.

In October 1919, a group of Black sharecroppers met at a church in an Arkansas village to organize a union. Bullets rained down on the meeting from outside. Many were killed by a white mob, and others were rounded up and arrested. Twelve of the sharecroppers were hastily tried and sentenced to death. Up stepped Scipio Africanus Jones, a self-taught lawyer who'd been born enslaved. Could he save the men's lives and set them free? Through their in-depth research and consultation with legal experts, award-winning nonfiction authors Sandra and Rich Wallace examine the complex proceedings and an unsung African American early civil rights hero.