A Crusader and an Advocate: The Black Press, the Scopes Trial, and Educational Progress.

The Scopes Trial was one of the most controversial, widely reported, and well-researched court cases of the twentieth century. However, historians and other researchers have largely ignored the African American community's reaction and response to the trial, leaving out valuable perspectives on this historic event. In this article, the author takes up the question: To what extent did African Americans view the Scopes Trial as an educational issue? The viewpoints of a diverse group of African Americans who participated in the evolution debate are described and analyzed, focusing specifically on newspaper and periodical columnists. In addition, the author examines how African American commentators skillfully connected questions of science and religion to larger goals of educational and racial equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]