African Americans in the south still weren't treated with respect, even after slavery was abolished. Not many people got to choose what happens in their future, some had their destiny chosen for them. Jefferson a young man from the novel A Lesson Before Dying, written by Ernest J. Gaines, had his life cut short but he had control over why it war cut short. Jefferson had control over letting people help him, getting into trouble leading him into a jail cell, and if he wanted to die a hog or a man. Jefferson had people who care about him and want to help him realize that he’s not some hog but a man. He doesn’t show them that he cares what they want, or that he cares that they are these for him. Jefferson just wants to get it over with and send to the chair. His aunt Miss Emma tries to get to him “You want me to go, and you just talk to Professor Wiggins?” He didn’t answer. She looked at me. She was ready to cry,”(Gaines,72). Jefferson war dull, and full of sadness. He didn’t want help from …show more content…
Jefferson was no hog but a man. The jury didn’t see him as a man or even a person, but a hog. The man who was defending the other people said “But let us say he was not. Let us for a moment say he was not. What justice, gentlemen. Why, I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair,”(Gaines,8). After they Jefferson was a hog, he believed it. He didn’t think of himself as a man anymore. Jefferson was slowly letting them have control over his life. Grant Wiggins war these to help him realized that they were wrong. After some time he believe that he wasn’t a hog, he pushed everyone else opinions as side. He took control of his destiny, he wasn’t going to go up to that chair as a hog, but a man. Jefferson did go to that chair as a man “He was the strongest man in that crowded room, Grant Wiggins,”(Gaines,253). He went up to that electric chair standing tall, he didn’t let them choose his future for