Strauder v. West Virginia (1880)

Untold Stories: The Cases That Shaped the Civil Rights Movement

In this episode I look at Strauder v. West Virginia (1880), the first in a long line of cases dealing with discrimination in the jury selection process. Jury duty is a very important topic in the history of black rights. I believe that it is just as important, if not more than the right the vote. And this country has a long history of intentionally excluding blacks for juries, which has allowed whites guilty of brutal crimes against black to go free (e.g. George Zimmerman). It has also led to countless blacks being sent to prison by a jury that is not comprised of their peers. As we look to see if the murderers of Ahmaud Arbery and Geroge Floyd are brought to justice, the composition of the jury will be critical. I anticipate that the defense attorney(s) will attempt to knock all the black people off the jury. Hopefully, the state won't allow it, but I'm not holding my breath. I wrote more about the long history of discrimination on juries and you can read by clicking on the link below Article: http://www.palookesworld.com/i-do-not-know-of-any-negro-a-brief-history-on-the-exclusion-of-blacks-from-juries-in-america/ Twitter: @plaookesworld Instagram: @palookesworld www.palookesworld.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvWkh1FxD-EbUQRAxmou37Q