The story of George Stinney Jr is one that still
melts the heart and causes deep anger whenever it is told. This, to me, is one of
the most glaring evidence of hate for the Black man in America. Who would kill
a little boy, knowing deep down he was innocent? Your guess is as good as mine.
He was only 14 when he was executed by the electric
chair. He was accused of killing two white girls; Betty who was 11 years old
and Mary who was 7. Their bodies were found near the house where George lived
with his parents.
During his trial, until the day of his execution, he
always carried a bible in his hands, claiming his innocence. But his
confessions and pleas fell on white deaf ears because at that time all the members
of the jury were white.
His trial lasted only 2 hours and the sentence was
handed down by the judge, 10 minutes later. The child's parents were threatened
and prevented from giving him gifts in the courtroom. They were expelled from
the city.
Before his execution, George spent 81 days without
being able to see his parents.
He was locked up in a solitary cell, which was 80km from his city. He was heard
and tried alone without the presence of his parents or a lawyer.
On the day of his execution, he was electrocuted
with 5,380 volts in the head. Now just take moment and imagine that. Yes,
that’s what humans did to a boy.
70 years later, he was finally proven innocent by a
judge in South Carolina. The beam with which the two white girls were killed,
weighed more than 19.07 kilograms. Therefore, it was impossible for George Stinney
to be able to lift it, let alone be able to hit hard enough to kill the two
girls.
It was then clear to everyone that the child was
innocent. Some white people put everything together to blame him just for being
black. His crime was his color – nothing more nothing less.
Stephen King was inspired by George’s case to write
his book “The Green Mile”, which was taken to the theaters in 1999.
George Stinney’s story is one that should speak to the heart of
the world, especially the races who have persecuted the Negro/brown/Afro race
for centuries. His case should be a measuring instrument to determine if
America and Europe are any better today when it comes to racism and the killing of
innocent black boys and girls.