Joan Little (African American Mental Historical past Society)
Joan Little is an African American lady who was charged in 1974 with the homicide of Clarence Alligood, a white jail guard on the Beaufort County Jail in Washington, North Carolina. Alligood tried to rape Little, however she fought again and killed him within the course of earlier than escaping the power. Her case grew to become a trigger célèbre amongst civil rights activists, feminists, and opponents of the dying penalty. Little was finally acquitted, turning into the primary lady in U.S. historical past to efficiently use lethal power in self-defense towards sexual assault as a authorized protection. Her trial can be notable for its groundbreaking use of scientific jury choice, making it a landmark in American authorized historical past.
Little was born on Might 8, 1954, to Jessie Williams and an unnamed father in Washington, North Carolina. She was the oldest of six siblings, together with 4 half-siblings. As a teen, she took varied jobs to assist herself, together with work as a waitress and within the tobacco business.
In 1968, on the age of fourteen, Little’s mom requested a choose to categorise her as a truant and commit her to the Dobbs Farm Coaching College in Kinston, North Carolina. After just a few weeks, Little ran away and hitchhiked again to Washington. Upon studying of her return, her mom despatched her to dwell with kin in Philadelphia.
Between December 1973 and January 1974, Little was arrested a number of occasions. Her last arrest, which led to her conviction on June 4, 1974, concerned three counts of breaking and getting into and larceny. She requested to stay within the county jail in Washington somewhat than be transferred to the Correctional Facility for Girls in Raleigh, partly so she may elevate bond cash.
On August 27, 1974, a police officer found Clarence Alligood’s physique on Little’s bunk. He was discovered bare with stab wounds to his temple and coronary heart, inflicted with an ice choose. Little was lacking however surrendered to authorities every week later, claiming she had killed Alligood in self-defense throughout an tried rape.
Little was charged with first-degree homicide, against the law that carried a compulsory dying sentence on the time. Her case made her the primary lady of coloration to efficiently declare self-defense in a homicide case primarily based on sexual assault. The trial drew nationwide consideration, attracting assist from civil rights and feminist leaders, together with Rosa Parks and Angela Davis. Her authorized protection, led by Jerry Paul and Karen Bethea-Shields, was funded by the Joan Little Protection Committee, which raised over $350,000.
The trial started on July 14, 1975, and lasted till August 15. A jury of six white and 6 African American members rendered a verdict of not responsible. A key think about her acquittal was testimony from different ladies, together with African American inmates Ida Mae Roberson and Phyllis Ann Moore, who described Alligood’s historical past of sexual misconduct.
Though Little was acquitted of homicide, she nonetheless needed to serve her earlier jail sentence. She later escaped from jail one month earlier than turning into eligible for parole however was finally caught and convicted for the escape. She was launched in June 1979 and moved to New York Metropolis. In 1981, she was shot however survived. In 1989, she was arrested in New Jersey for driving a stolen automotive however was later launched. After that, she disappeared from public view.