Melvin Smith

Full Name

Melvin Smith

Victim Profile

Melvin Smith

Name Variations

Melblie Smith, Mettie Smith

Biography

On August 5th, 1898, Melvin Smith was a nearly lynched victim in Elmore County Alabama after being accused of attempted breaking an entering with the intent to rape a White girl. Melvin Smith was a Black man born on September 5th, 1881, in the state of Alabama. Melvin’s home in the 1920’s was located in Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama. As a Black man during the times of the late 19th century, Melvin Smith was able to read and write. Melvin’s occupation revolved around being a laborer for an industry mill. Melvin Smith was the head of his household where he rented his home and was married to a Gussie Smith. Melvin smith also was a part of the World War One Draft, in which he had a medium physical build with black hair and eye color. Melvin along with another Black man by the name of Willie Floyd were both charged for the attempt to rape a young white girl in the Elmore County area. The lack of detailed information and documentation on Melvin Smith is a reflection of the systemic discrimination and marginalization that Black individuals faced in the past. Melvin’s name was misspelled and misrepresented in white newspapers as “Melbie” and “Mettie”. The scarcity and lack of information about Melvin Smith makes it difficult to piece together a complete picture of his life and the experiences he faced with the attempted lynching.

Documented or Attempted

Attempted

Birth Date

September 5, 1881

County of Birth; County of Death

N/A; N/A

Death Date

N/A

Date of Attempted Lynching

August 5th, 1898

Age at Death

15

Race

Black

Sex

Male

Researchers

Zackary Sheats

Case Number

AMP051-18980805-001

Identified by:

Alabama Memory Project

Spouse or Partner

Gussie Smith

Occupation

Laborer