Analysis Of A Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines

Throughout history, there have been several discriminatory actions and abuse targeted to a particular race that destroyed their progression towards equality. Renowned author Ernest J. Gaines depicts this unfair harassment through his work of literature “A Lesson Before Dying,” to which he exposed the racial injustices to his audience. The audience was introduced to a man by the name of Grant Wiggins, who was given the task of turning Jefferson into a man after he was said to be a hog. Jefferson, whom at the time was on death row, waited for his punishment for a crime he did not commit. Throughout the story, Grant was rather stubborn in teaching Jefferson this overarching concept. Later on, rather than feeling obligated to abide by both Ms.Emma

Given that a majority are discriminated and judged by the color of one’s skin, Grant would be entitled to assist in redirecting the focus of equality of African Americans through Jefferson. As seen in the conversation with Grant and Vivian at the Rainbow Club, Grant described a common struggle in the black community that dealt with the perception of black folks. In society, the white man has enforced an overpowering burden being racism and prejudice among the African American population that called the need for reform. Grant goes on to suggest that Jefferson serves as the people’s savior as it was “It's up to Jefferson my love.”(p164) He suggests that Jefferson will end the oppression that the whites have implemented towards them, as he would learn to stand up for himself and others. While at the prison, Grant continued to encourage and motivate Jefferson to help eliminate the myth of white supremacy. Grant explains that as a result of refusing to rebel against this dominance in society, the white folks will continue to exist as a powerful authority towering over the black majority. However, he urges Jefferson to oppose this behavior stating “I want you to chip away at the myth by standing. I want you… to call them liars.That judge? Is he a man? The governor is no

This issue was represented as white authority and its influence over the tenuous population. To overcome this obstacle, the most adequate and essential solution revolved around both Grant and the execution of Jefferson. In chapter 20, Grant met up with Henri Pichot, the sheriff, and Reverend Ambrose to discuss the execution date of Jefferson. However, Grant and Ambrose held a discussion questioning the reasoning behind deciding on the date of one’s death. “How do people come up with a date and a time to take life from another man?.. Twelve white men say a black man must die, and another white man sets the date and time without consulting one black person...They sentence you to death because you were at the wrong place at the wrong time, with no proof that you had anything at all to do with the crime...Yet six months later they come and unlock your cage and tell you, We, us, white folks all, have decided it’s time for you to die, because this is the convenient date and time.” Within this dialogue, Grant expresses his hatred and confusion towards assigning Jefferson a date to which he will be sentenced to death. He acknowledges that Jefferson was not consulted with the decision and hence unreasonable to assign a date without him being aware. Lastly, it can also be seen that Grant developed greater frustration towards white supremacists and