Mock Trial of Mann vs. State of North Carolina

             In class today, we decided to conduct a mock trial of a court case involving the beating and mistreatment of a slave in the 1830's of North Carolina. I thought the process of mock trial considering the case of Mann vs. State of North Carolina was very interesting and it was very easy to distinguish the two sides of each court. Each side delivered strong facts and steady defending points to counteract the other team. Neither team gave up on their arguments nor decided to side with the other team. The four prosecutors and four defendants were very prepared and gave the judge a tough decision to conclude even though the decision was concluded over 150 years ago. The trial seemed legitimate and well thought it. The decision to allow Mann to walk free was upheld in the their day but in the modern age he would've have been put in jail or even worse put to death. We can all consider that shooting an innocent woman is inhumane and morally wrong. But in their day and age, the Southern traditions of beatings of a slave were common and they believed these beatings to help the slave become a more trained and perfect worker. They didn't see that slave as having rights to fight back but only the right to work until that slaves job was done or their contract expired unto which they were to be freed. The South has most definitely changed but the racism still exists today even in the 21st century. I believe the racism will fade from generation to generation as long as the world continues to view slavery in the way it does today. The case can be viewed here www.northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/268/entry