Racism In Ernest Gaines's 'A Lesson Before Dying'

A Lesson Before Dying: Writing Assignment #1 Racism has been a continuous conflict in America since the first African-American was captured and brought to America to serve as a slave to the superior race of the white people. In the early 1940’s, racism was at its peak and people began to speak out about the problems they and their ancestors had been facing throughout history. Black people at this time had very little rights and little opportunities, they were seen as the inferior race. The novel, A Lesson Before Dying, written by Ernest Gaines, shows multiple cases in which racism plays a role in the characters’ morality, values, and expectations of themselves. The white or mulatto characters in this novel have the ability to show others that they truly

What you see here is a thing that acts on command. A thing to hold the handle of a plow, a thing to load your bales of cotton, a thing to dig your ditches, to chop your wood, to pull your corn.”(p.7/8). This selection of overt dialogue shows the reader that Jefferson, the character on trial, is only good to use on the fields and has not use to society except for that one reason. “‘Grant Wiggins,’ I said. ‘How are you, Higgins’’Wiggins, sir’ I said. ‘I’m fine.’”(p.52). This overt quote shows that Dr. Joseph, the superintendent, has no respect to get Grant’s name correct nor to even say it correctly when responding to Grant’s question. “‘Been waiting long?’ Sam Guidry asked me. ‘About two and a half hours, sir,’ I said. I was supposed to say ‘Not long,’ and I was supposed to grin; but I didn't do either.”(p.47). This piece of subtle dialogue shows that Sam Guidry didn't have a care in the world how long Grant had been waiting for him, even though Grant was told to be there by 5pm. Sam Guidry also makes no effort to say “Sorry for making you wait so long” later in the dialogue. When Grant states what he should have said and done shows that he is trying to show the white