Justice and Racism in Early 20th Century Virginia

This chapter examines the intricate realities surrounding Black men accused of raping white women in Virginia from 1900 to 1960, revealing that many were acquitted or pardoned despite societal prejudices. It focuses on the complex case of William Harper and Dorothy Skaggs in 1931, illustrating racial and gender dynamics within a flawed judicial system. Additionally, the chapter discusses the flexible nature of Jim Crow laws and offers a perspective from Heinrich Krieger on the violent realities of systemic racism in the South.