There are a number of lessons that one must learn as one goes through life. But the lesson of attempting to survive through the racial discrimination in the south is one lesson that is most valuable to those who lived in that era. Many blacks can now relate to the racial challenge that Jefferson face in Louisiana in 1948. Like many other blacks during the 1940’s, Jefferson faces death for a murder. Of course the laws during the period did not require much proof to convict a black man as much of the stories of the past reveal that blacks face racial discrimination that often led to the death of a number of innocent black men and women in the society. Jefferson is semi-literate, but his white lawyer’s defense centers on the portrayal of the blacks as the typical arrogant person who is not capable of being responsible for his actions. The inner conflicts in the novel surface as Jefferson must now admit to being treated fairly even though this is far from the truth. Gaines “A lesson before dying” teaches a number of valuable lessons as the author look at racial injustice and the inequity in the society towards blacks and the inhumane treatment that blacks face in the white dominated society.
Ernest Gaines writes from a personal perspective on the repressive ways in which blacks are treated in the society. In fact, Gaines’ experiences stems from the fact that he lived through the Jim Crow laws in Louisiana before he moved to California (Harris 1). But, Gaines never left the South and as such his works reveal the “literary depictions of the southern black men who are the substance of those depictions” (Harris 1). Gaines shows that the African American had to deal with the systemic racism that was present in the society and like, Jefferson, many of these persons were left to function based on the years of white oppression that left them with limited psychological and physical spaces.
The novel gives an accurate account of the fictional story that holds a strong chord of realism that reflects the oppression of the Jim Crow laws and the impact that these laws have had on the blacks in the early 1900s. The narrator, Grant Wiggins gives the recount of the events that shows Jefferson resigning himself to his eventual execution. According to Carl Senna, Jefferson’s actions “lends credence to the lesson of Grant's own teacher, Matthew Antoine” (Senna 2) and the manner in which the Jim Crow laws have broken “educated men like Grant and prisoners like Jefferson to the nigger you were born to be" (Senna 2). The white lawyer’s initial behavior is unjust as he forces Jefferson to draw the conclusion that he does not deserve a fair trial and that he is not worthy of the court’s expense. In addition, the lawyer argues that “Jefferson was innocent of all charges except being in the wrong place at the wrong time” (Gaines 9). While this behavior is appalling to people in the 21st century, the lawyer’s actions were common to the society because of the inequity in the justice system. In addition, the actions of the lawyer represented the accepted treatment of the blacks under the Jim Crow laws.
The struggles against racial discrimination continue to create controversy in the society as many black men find that they are killed by white police officers because of their skin color and because of the presumed “fears” of the blacks. But, there is no true fear against the black man as they are often the victims of an unfair justice system. Gaines shows the struggles that Grant faces without much success. At first, Grant struggles to restore some amount of human dignity to the cynical, semiliterate, and bitter 21-year-old, Jefferson. The greatest challenge that Grant faces is that Jefferson has accepted the inhumanity of capital punishment and the stereotypical presentation of his lawyer. Grant’s bitterness towards the system occurs because of the negative feelings that he has towards the black population. Grant shows that the people in his hometown have bent to the laws of the whites and have resorted to accepting their fate which helps to hold them in an inferior position in the society. There is a double consciousness in Grant as he is frustrated by the idea that blacks refuse to fight against the system.
Trudier Harris postulates that Gaines characters are not known to cause earth-shattering changes or influence revolution in the society (Harris 42), but their heroic actions lies in their ability to make important decisions that are difficult. Jefferson’s decision to accept his execution is a difficult one as death cannot be a welcoming idea and yet he makes the choice to accept his fate. Through the influences of Black Studies, one is able to appreciate the decision that Jefferson makes for his life. Many black writers over the years have successfully acknowledged the black literary influences on their writing.
Reggie Scott- Young argues that Gaines has been stigmatized because of the lack of opening acknowledging the black influence on his writing (Scott-Young 2). Instead, Gaines uses his personal experiences and the works of “white” writers to influence his presentation of Jefferson. Gaines suggests that during his time the white writers had more influence on his education as he was mostly exposed to the works of white writers in Louisiana. Nonetheless, Gaines presents an accurate revelation of the white and black influences on the black people in his story and the suppression that comes from white supremacy.
The women in these societies show that they are more receptive to finding measures to fight against the inhumanity of the society. For Grant, the women are more actively in the society and it is this action that leads to their active participation in encouraging Grant to help Jefferson. Gaines writes: “After listening to one or two of the verses, I tuned out the rest of them. I had heard them all many times” (Gaines 33) in the church and community. Grant sees these women as a part of the vicious cycle of submission. But later, he learns that the actions of the women are stronger that he first imagined as the women attempt to change his perception of his life. Grant believes that “without the hope that these women provide through their belief in redemption in the future, life would be intolerable.”(Gaines 3). In other words, life would have been worse for these people if a few black people had not attempted to take pride in their status and actions and become a cohesive unit in Bayonne. Through the trial of Jefferson, Grant learns that despite the negative challenges in the justice system and the society at large, he can change his feelings of disgust and the hatred that he feels towards those who ne believe have lost faith and hope in the justice system. Emma, Vivian, and Tante Lou are instrumental in the novel as they help to change Grants perception on life and in turn change the perception that he has of the society. In addition, Grant learns the valuable lesson of changing his negative attitude in order to help to remove the injustice that surround the ultimate execution of Jefferson.
Women are instrumental in their roles of providing care, love and support for the men in the society. Tante Lou and Miss Emma believe that Grant can help Jefferson because they realize that there are lessons to be learned from the experiences of each man. The women are also powerful because they are affiliated with the church and that they are proud of their black heritage. Additionally, the women represent the contrast in the attitude of Grant to his heritage and Jefferson’s upcoming execution. Through these women, Gaines shows that despite the negative perception of the black men in the white dominated society, blacks are human and should be treated as such. But, many blacks have become angry at the system and like Grant, they choose to shirk their community responsibility as they believe that blacks refuse to accept the ways that blacks are treated as though they are still slaves. The readers realize that Grant’s actions can be justified as the blacks continue to accept entering the Pichot’s house through the back doors and Jefferson’s silent acceptance that he will be executed. But, the three women attempt to teach both Grant and the readers that there is potential power in each black man.
The lessons that Grant learns stem from the power and role of the women in his life. In fact, these women help to bridge the social distance between Jefferson and Grant. The social divide is present because of the education of the each man and the social class division which causes frustration in the communication between these men. Grant intervenes because of his aunt and Miss Emma. Despite Grant’s personal feelings towards he takes the opportunity to try to save him from disgrace. Interestingly, justice for the black man is of secondary importance to Grant and the reader’s realize that building a racial image is more important than proving the innocence of the black man. The lessons in this case are important as the readers also become aware of the moral courage that is lacking in the responses of Jefferson. The execution forces Grant into despair, but Jefferson is more accepting of his fate and beliefs that he must die with dignity and not as the “hog” that the white lawyer presents him to be.
In addition, the intensity of the plot increases as Grant realizes that he must try to overcome the racial divide that exists in the society. Vivian plays an important role in the lesson that Grant faces. She is also instrumental to Grant’s decision to save the dignity of Jefferson and possibly save him from the slated execution. Grant rejects the Creole prejudice against blacks, and Vivian in turn must learn the valuable lesson of accepting the way that Jefferson faces the execution (Senna 7). Arguably, Vivian represents the division between the blacks and the colored people and as such she must learn from the horrifying experiences of the other Creoles and the calm animosity of that Grant's black relatives display (Senna 7). Gaines reveals that conflicts in the story are almost real as the readers see Jefferson being chained securely in prison and yet he faces the freedom of how he will eventually die. The lesson is this message is that despite the circumstances, people always have choices in the way that they accept their fate and destiny.
The characters in the novel are complex and yet they possess the redeeming quality in a harsh racist society. Michael Swindle, in his review of the novel, suggests that the black man is a thing that cannot hold any plans except to work in the fields (Swindle 3). The arguments put forth by the lawyer create the ultimate lesson in racial discrimination as Jefferson is presented as unimportant and uneducated. The jury of twelve white men further reinforces the racism in the society as they come to the conclusion of death by electrocution. Their response to the case was expected as the black man was charged with the death of a white man. The truth is that the blacks in the society will continue to face racism as the society continues to place the blacks in the minority groups in the society. Grant is correct in his views that he cannot raise the dead as he has come to accept that murder charges against a black man is almost like fighting a losing battle. His reluctance is understandable and his suggestion that he can only try to help others from becoming like Jefferson is a reminder that the journey to equality in the 1940s was challenging for many blacks.
In concluding the lessons that Gaines presents in the novel are not strange or unique to the society. Blacks have always been the victims of racial discrimination and inequality in the society. Jefferson’s story is provocative and serves as a reminder of the struggles of the blacks over the years. But, Jefferson is also a reminder of the acceptance that comes with racial struggles and inequality in a predominantly white society. Gaines presents this picture f a defeated man to emphasize that whites continued to dominate the society and even in the modern society, the lessons of inequality and racial discrimination continues today. But as with Gaines novel, women are also instrumental to the way in which men reach and accept their strength. Emma, Vivian, and Tante Lou show that women are emotionally stronger that men and are more willing to fight against the adversity in the society. These three women teach Grant the valuable lesson that blacks are just as good as whites and the only exception to equality between the racial groups is the constant reminder that the whites attempt to dominate the society because of the white laws and the knowledge that the whites form the majority group in the society.
Works cited
Gaines, Ernest J., “A Lesson Before Dying” Vintage Ebooks, A Division of Random House, Inc,
New York, Print
Harris, Trudier. "Fear of Manhood in the Wake of Systemic Racism in Ernest J. Gaines's 'Three
Men.'."The Scary Mason-Dixon Line: African American Writers and the South. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2009. 41-61. Rpt. inContemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 300. Detroit: Gale, 2011. Artemis Literary Sources. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Scott Young, Reggie, Theoretical Influences and Experimental Resemblances: Ernest J. Gaines
and Recent Critical Approaches to the Study of African American Fiction (2009) Contemporary African American Fiction: New Critical Essays. Ed. Dana A. Williams . Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 2009. p11-36. Rpt. In Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 300. Detroit: Gale. From Literature Resource Center, Gale, Cengage Learning
Senna, Carl, Dying Like a Man (1993) New York Times, Web 22 Apr 2016
<http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/12/28/bsp/16002.html>
Swindle, Michael, Louisiana Justice: A LESSON BEFORE DYING, By Ernest J. Gaines (1993)
Los Angeles Times Magazine Web 22 Apr 2016 < http://articles.latimes.com/1993-05-30/books/bk-41358_1_louisiana-justice>
An overview of the history of blacks in the early 1940s and the way that many blacks have accepted the racial discrimination and inequality of the whites in the society. There are different lessons to be learnt from the racial discrimination. Lessons include:
Surviving the racial discrimination in the south
It did not take much to convict a black man.
THESIS: Gaines “A lesson before dying” teaches a number of valuable lessons as the author look at racial injustice and the inequity in the society towards blacks and the inhumane treatment that blacks face in the white dominated society.
Body Paragraph 1:
The ways in which blacks have accepted their treatment since the 1900s.
Grant Wiggins views on the case of Jefferson
Body paragraph 2
The struggles against racial discrimination continue to create controversy in the society as many black men find that they are killed by white police officers because of their skin color and because of the presumed “fears” of the blacks.
Struggles of the black people
Body Paragraph 3
Importance of women in the society and their roles in attempting to teach the lessons of accepting one’s heritage.
The lessons that grant learns in the novel
Body paragraph 4 –
The role of women in the lives of men. The role of the three women in shaping Grant’s thoughts.
Body paragraph 5
The connection between the lessons Grant learns and the power of women in bridging the social gap in the society.
Body paragraph 6
The importance of Vivian to Grant’s life. The lessons that Vivian learns
Body paragraph 7
Racial discrimination against the uneducated blacks in the society.
Conclusion- Restate the main points about the different lessons that the characters learn throughout the story.
References
Gaines, Ernest J., “A Lesson Before Dying” Vintage Ebooks, A Division of Random House, Inc,
New York Print
Senna, Carl, Dying Like a Man (1993) New York Times, Web 22 Apr 2016
<http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/12/28/bsp/16002.html>
Swindle, Michael, Louisiana Justice: A LESSON BEFORE DYING, By Ernest J. Gaines (1993)
Los Angeles Times Magazine Web 22 Apr 2016 < http://articles.latimes.com/1993-05-30/books/bk-41358_1_louisiana-justice>
Outline
