Racist Jury

August 18 1916
Reverend Sykes allowed us up on the coloured balcony.  We climbed the stairs and when we arrived, four coloured men got up from their front row seats and gave them to us.  We gratefully took them and sat in silence as Mr. Heck Tate began testifying.  When Atticus turned to question Mr. Tate, my hand tightened on the railing as I understood what questions Atticus was asking.  Mr. Tate replied no 3 times to when Atticus questioned him if he had called the doctor.  I was grinning the entire time as I realized that all the evidence related to the assault and how we were winning.  I realized that Mayella Ewell was beaten on the right side of the face and Mr. Ewell was left handed which meant that he was one who beat her because a right handed person would not be able to punch the right side of face.  I told Scout “We got him!!!!”  Next to the stand was Mayelle, the victim.  She identified Tom as the criminal and as Tom stood, I noticed his left arm was crippled, making it impossible for him to hit the right side of her face.  When Atticus asked her if she was sure it was Tom and not her dad that beat her she became upset and strongly insulted anyone who did not believe her.  She began to cry and left the courtroom.  There was a quick recess and I stood and yawned.  Mr. Underwood, from the comfort of his home, above the courtroom noticed us in the coloured balcony, however I didn’t think he would tell Atticus.  I turned to Dill and we discussed the finer points of the trial.  Once the recess concluded, Tom Robinson was called to the stand. Atticus began by announcing that Tom was in trouble with the law before.  Dill asked was he was doing and I explained that he was showing that he has nothing to hide.  Atticus led Tom to recount his side of the story and it seemed to hold a lot more truth than the other three witnesses.  Then Mr. Glimer had his turn to cross examine Tom. He asked many questions and Dill began to cry so Scout took him outside.  When they came back in Scout asked what they had missed and I explained that Atticus had gone over the evidence and had made it simple to understand.  I think we won I said. I meant I can’t see how we couldn’t. As Atticus was concluding, Dill pointed out Cal as she made her way towards Atticus.  She handed him a note telling him that we haven’t been home since noon.  Then Mr. Underwood told him we were in the coloured balcony.  Atticus then turned, looked at us and told us to get down from there.  We were met by Cal and Atticus at the bottom of the stairs.  Jumping with excitement, I asked, “We have won, haven’t we?”  Atticus said that he didn’t know and to go home for supper.  When we returned to the court house nothing had changed, they were still waiting on the jury’s verdict.  They took over an hour and when they returned I held my breath as judge Taylor read their verdict. “Guilty…guilty…guilty”  I was gripping the railing to tight that my hands turned white and each guilty felt like a stab in my back.  As we followed Atticus out of the courthouse I began to sob, crying “It ain’t right.”
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/NAACP+Legal+Defense+and+Educational+Fund

attempt on tom's life

August 3 1916
Atticus said goodnight to us Sunday as he left for town.  He took the car and an extension cord and said he’d be back when we were in bed.  Scout and I thought it odd as he never drove so I decided to go downtown to check on him once everyone was asleep.  As I was changing into my pants, to go out, there was a knock on the door followed by the question, “Why ain’t you in bed?” I told Scout where I was headed. She insisted on coming.  I knew arguing would only antagonise Aunty so I gave in and allowed her to come. Then we had to go get Dill because Scout said that he would want to come.  When we got there I whistled Bobwhite and Dill emerged.  He asked what was up and I told him I had a feeling.  We set off downtown and as we rounded the corner, I saw our car sitting out front of the bank and announced, “He’s in there.” I peered into the window where his office was but saw nothing so I turned the doorknob to make sure it was locked and it didn’t budge. I wondered if he was visiting Mr. Underwood up the street so we decided to look.  As we walked up the sidewalk we saw a solitary light burning in the distance. “That’s funny`` I said, ``the jail doesn’t have an outside light``.  The closer I got, I noticed a long extension cord running between the bars of one of the cells. The extension cord was the one Atticus had taken from the house.  He was sitting, propped up against the jail doors, and reading.  Scout began to run towards him. I caught her and said we were going home that I just wanted to see where Atticus was. As we turned around to leave, a long line of vehicles began to move towards the jail.  I pulled Scout and Dill back across the street to the cover of Jitney Jungle’s door.  I peered our and notice that we could get a little closer, so we ran to Tyndal`s Hardware Store door.  By then, the men had begun leaving their cars in ones and twos. As they approached the jail, they asked Atticus, “He in there?”  Atticus replied, “Yes, but he is asleep.”  They told Atticus that he knew what they wanted but Atticus told them to turn around and go home.  We realized that somebody’s man was about to be jumped and Scout tore off towards the circle of men.  I shrieked and chased her but she had a lead.  She broke through the circle and yelled to Atticus.  When Dill and I caught up we saw a look of fear on Atticus` face. He told me to take Scout home.  Scout kicked him and the men told Atticus to get us out of there however I kept refusing Atticus` threats, requests and pleas.  I had a reason for what I was doing.  Scout then began to talk to Mr. Cunningham about his entailments and then about his son until he finally left.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CivilRightsMovement

segregation for safety

July 12 1916
Cal agreed to take scout and I to church with her, as my father was out and we weren’t allowed to go on our own since our little Eunice Ann Simpson incident in the furnace room. She ensured we washed well. I made a big scene as she had invaded my privacy for the first time in years. However I soon realized how much this meant to her. Cal stayed overnight at our place and in the morning all our clothes were laid out on her cot in the kitchen, all set for the days events. We got all dressed up and we looked like we were going to Mardi Gras. (p118) We arrived at the old church, the only one with a steeple and bell, and were greeted with the warm bittersweet smell of clean Negro, and were shown respect from all of them. The men moved their hats and the woman crossed their arms at their waists. The warm sensation of welcoming was suddenly smashed when Lula called out, “What you up to Miss Cal?” (p119) Cal dug her hands into my shoulders as we turned to face our accuser. Cal attempted to reassure us but I was too frightened.  Lula approached us and told Cal she had no business bringing us to their church. I was uncomfortable and asked Cal to take us home. The crowd of respectful Negros surrounded us reassuring us that we were welcome and not to listen to Lula, our persecutor.   

http://www.helium.com/items/1418486-rosa-parks---impact-on-racism