In light of Black History Month, and the fact that most Americans have never heard of this particular piece of that history, please allow me to share with your readers the story of the largest mass execution for rape in United States history. It’s the story of the Martinsville Seven.

In 1949, in Martinsville, Va., seven black men were arrested for the rape of Ruby Stroud Floyd, a 32-year-old married white woman. Within 30 hours of Stroud’s rape, all seven men had signed written confessions. Within 11 days, all seven were tried, convicted and sentenced to death by all-white juries. Two were tried at the same time. The youngest was only 17 at the time of his arrest. The oldest was 37, with a wife and five children. Right before the youngest was executed, he said, “God knows I didn’t touch that woman, and I’ll see ya’ll on the other side.”

By 1951, all seven had been executed in Richmond, Va. The Supreme Court had refused to hear the case. China and Russia sent telegrams to the White House asking then-President Harry S. Truman to intervene, but he did nothing.

No white man has ever been executed in Virginia for rape. In 1977, the Supreme Court ruled that rape could not be punishable by death. The Martinsville Seven case was instrumental in helping change the rape laws of this great nation.

Every person I have ever interviewed in Martinsville, young and old alike, said that the victim was having an affair with one of the Seven. From pictures I’ve seen, three of these black men could have passed for white. The true story of the Seven has never been told.

For the record, I was born and raised in Martinsville, and three of the men executed were Hairstons, relatives of mine.

Pamela A. Hairston
Washington, D.C.