First, prepare a response to the statement below in a Word document using coherent arguments, clear writing, and correct grammar. The initial response should be roughly 500 words in length with vivid and specific details from the text. Once the response is of publishable quality, cut and paste it into the blog thread prepared for the novel you read. You will be posting with students from all of my classes who read the same novel. Second, respond to three (3) students in the same blog (you may respond to students not in your class). Your responses must be at least 150 words in length, well-written, and correct in grammar. Make sure you thoughtfully respond to the initial posting, referencing the original student’s thoughts, as well as anyone else who has responded. Include in your responses informally referenced historical or modern day examples to support your argument. This is a scholastic application of Internet networking – “Internet speak,” acronyms, casual or inappropriate language, off-task communication, or profanity is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Any inappropriate response will be deleted immediately and no credit will be given.
Statement: Ernest Gaines strongly comments on American society in A Lesson Before Dying. Describe the commentary and Gains' purpose behind it, supporting your analysis with vivid, specific details from the text.
Sarah Goss
ReplyDeleteAP English 11 (pd 4)
09.08.10
A LESSON BEFORE DYING-initial response
There are many social aspects in A Lesson Before Dying. Grant is the main character who is very dynamic and his character changes a great deal throughout the novel. His main goal is to make Jefferson, a black man, realize that he is a man. After being called a hog so many times, even Jefferson begins to think that maybe he really is what other people say he is. Gaines does a great job of showing how much people really would discriminate against someone because of their race. Jefferson was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and did not commit a crime. Since he is black, he is convicted of murder. He is called a hog in court and is sentenced to be executed. Miss Emma says, “They called my boy a hog, I didn’t raise no hog, and I don’t want no hog to go set in that chair. I want a man to go set in that chair, Mr. Henri.” (ch.3 pg.20). This part of the novel really stood out to me because it represented her love for Jefferson. She knew he was going to die. That couldn’t be changed. She at least wanted him to die a man.
Jefferson was forced to take responsibility for something he did not do. This really wasn’t fair because he was a good guy and he had done nothing wrong. Grant knew that it was all a big understanding but during this time, everyone knew there was no stopping his execution. It was going to happen. That is when his focus shifted to making sure Jefferson knew he was dying a man, a brave man. Gaines wanted people aware of the problem that was occurring in Louisiana. This was only an example of one of the many situations the people of the south probably encountered.
I also thought it was interesting how Gaines chose to have Grant be the narrator. This helped to give the reader different points of view and showed how both characters grew and changed throughout the novel. I think that Grant and Jefferson are both considered heroes and they really helped each other grow and learn. Grant was successful at making Jefferson die a brave man. Jefferson helped Grant to realize that there is so much to learn in life. Grant made Jefferson feel like he was worth something. He visited everyday, when others had given up. Grant had high hopes for Jefferson and when Jefferson’s diary was read, I think that people realized he was still strong on the inside and Grant became aware of the fact that it meant a lot to Jefferson when he would visit so often.
This novel was inspiring and insightful. I think that one of the motifs is definitely change. People can change. Our world and our society have changed. No one is convicted of a crime without proof, no matter what the race might be. The power of respect is also very apparent. Many people respected Jefferson and Grant even more after everything they went through. Grant has all of his students kneel by their desks until they receive word on what went on at the execution of Jefferson. Grant couldn’t bring himself to observe, which I find very understandable. They had become so close to each other so how could he watch him die? They both respected one another and they should be very proud of their accomplishments. Gaines was trying to make it known that racism was a major problem in society in this time period.
You did a great job on how you put your conclusion together so well
DeleteIn A Lesson Before Dying, Gaines makes many comments about the nature of pride. The main character, Grant, is a black teacher who, because of his race and job, has lost his hopes of making a difference in his people’s lives. No matter what he does, he is looked down upon by the people who in essence control his life and future. He resents the fact that he can never be more than he is, and feels hopeless. He says himself that he is “running in place” in life. He transfers this feeling to his students, who he bullies because he has low self esteem. His lack of confidence is caused by the white people “above” him who constantly flaunt that fact. People like Sheriff Guidry, the superintendent of the schools, etc. He leaves his aunt and the only home he’s ever known for college, and while there he loses his faith in Christianity, something he never fully regains. Being out on his own for the first time, he expected freedom and to succeed past his full potential. Instead, he is reminded of his supposed inferiority every day by the same people who want him to fail. Here, Gaines discusses the ultimately superior voice many white people had in society, as well as how they used that voice to hold African-Americans back, and control their lives and rights.
ReplyDeleteThe plotline consists of a young black boy, Jefferson, who is accused of killing a white man and stealing. He is sentenced to the electric chair, after a drawn out, hopeless trial in which his own defense attorney calls him a “hog.” This word is used throughout the remainder of the book. Jefferson loses all hope in life at that point, which makes sense. He was just told he was going to die. The terrible part is not only that he is innocent, but they do not tell him when he will die until the end, about a week before his death date. Grant enters the picture when his aunt, who is best friends with Jefferson’s godmother, forces him to go talk to Jefferson in jail. The godmother and the aunt want Grant to teach Jefferson how to be a man, because he is a teacher. He resists the whole way, disrespecting his aunt and the godmother. Jefferson refuses to talk to anyone while he is in jail, and when he does talk it is to tell people that he will not act humane because he is not a human, he is a hog. Gaines makes a point here about what happens when you have nothing left to live for.
Pride is the ultimate theme in this novel. The hatred and different degrees of racism are all shown: whites against blacks, and blacks against whites. What do you live for when you have nothing left? Jefferson slowly comes to terms with the fact that he is going to die, and there is nothing he can do about it. He becomes a man once he pulls himself together and acts like a man, one equal to every other man, no matter what anyone else says or does. Grant gains pride in himself, becoming more confidant once he realizes that he had been living like Jefferson; calling himself names and pushing away the people he cares about. After he realizes this, he understands that being equal to somebody else is all in your mindset. If you allow other people to control you and push you down, then you are letting them make you inferior. Gaines points out the difference between false pride and the real kind, along with commenting on the numerous negative effects and pointlessness of racism.
A Lesson before Dying is an insight to Ernest Gaine's view on society, making the reader experience unjustified cruelty through the eyes of the mistreated, and putting the 1940's into perspective for the audience.
ReplyDeleteHog was a synonym for an individual in the black community during those times. They weren't viewed as humans who could think, feel, or experience love, instead they were described as the common farm animal that was used to feed the family a hearty meal. By reading this novel, it truly gave me a glimpse of how society was run back then. They treated blacks as a minority, making them do hard manual labor, receiving little to no education, and were always assumed guilty before proven innocent.
A parallel that stuck out to me to A Lesson before Dying was the same plot in To Kill a Mockingbird. Both stories had an innocently accused man in court being defended with evidence that if the accused had been white would have gone free, but since that was not the case they were assumed guilty for being at the wrong place at the wrong time and for the color of their skin. On page seven it states “The defense argued that Jefferson was innocent of all charges except being at the wrong place at the wrong time. There was absolutely no proof that there had been a conspiracy between himself and the other two. The fact that Mr. Grope shot only Brother and Bear was proof of Jefferson's innocece. Why did Mr. Grope shoot one boy twice and never shoot at Jefferson once? Because Jefferson was merely an innocent bystander. He took the whiskey to calm his nerves, not to celebrate. He took the money out of hunger and plain stupidity.” There was more than enough factual information to let an innocent man go, but the stubborn ignorance of society and their prejudicing of another race could not let this man walk free. Just as the court in To Kill a Mockingbird had found the black man guilty, and the community in this one even knew the white man accusing him of rape was lying, they still decided to let an innocent man die in 'justice'.
Ernest made it quite apparent that the black community was not viewed as intellectuals by the rest of the community. Whenever a slave or free black wanted to speak to a white person, they had to address them with yes sirs', no sirs' and actually had to dumb down the way they spoke when around them, speaking in past tenses so they could sound unintelligent. This part reminded me of a story I read when I was a sophomore, where the pretty people of society had to where bags on their face, the strong people had to have weights weigh them down, and the ingenious had to have their thoughts disrupted every minute. The essential idea was to make everyone equal, with no other having anything more than another one, but by creating these handicaps on the above average individuals of society they are doing what they aim not to do by making others notice that they are beautiful, muscular, genius's with their outrageous icons. By making the black community speak in a past tense to the white race suggests that the white men are afraid of the black community, giving them these icons separate them as equals of society and puts them on their own pedestal.
Gaine's put the 1940's into perspective for the readers by showing how society was unjustly run, based on prejudice racism, through the eyes of the mistreated. I've never had an author's words truly evoke the imagery of a single place or time so vividly in my reading experience before.
Alex Swafford
In this book, Ernest Gaines portrays the nation’s legal system as unjust and biased, and also shows the poor relationship of ethnically diverse people in the 1940. In A Lesson Before Dying, a “man” named Jefferson is put on trial for being in the wrong place at the wrong time when the jury of twelve white men found him guilty he was sentenced to death. This alone supports the theory of an unjust in the legal system. This also reflects on the relationship of whites and blacks in the time period. African Americans such as Jefferson are thought to be uneducated and unintelligent, but according to the judiciary point of view they are still capable of committing such crimes as murder and theft.
ReplyDeleteIn this book Africans Americans are called derogatory terms such as “hog” and “dumb animal.” The defense said its “cruel” to kill a person who has no more intelligence than a hog. This illustrates the low opinion the white community has over the blacks.
One example of the racism portrayed in the small town is the separation of schools, churches, and theaters. A person can only imagine how superior the “white-only” part of town is as opposed to its soiled counterpart. An example of the role the black children play in the community is that the black-only schools get out early during the cotton picking season so they can work out on the fields.
Grant Wiggins, a black teacher in the town has strayed away from the stereotypical uneducated class and worked hard to become a teacher. In a society that makes it impossible for African-Americans to succeed he did. Grant really makes a tremendous effort so he can better the lives of the kids in the town. He wants them to grow up unlike their parents working in the field and for them to have successful careers.
Throughout the book only one white character, a police officer named Paul made the effort to befriend an African (in this case it was Grant Wiggins.) All the whites felt like they were superior. Sometimes Grant would even have to lower himself and not use proper English in front of whites because they would be “insulted.”
Before Jefferson is executed, Grant says, “I want you to show them the difference between what they think you are and what you can be.” This quote explains how the black community worked to overcome the bleak opinions of the whites. They wanted to reverse the last century of unfair treatment and this was the first step.
As you can see Ernest J. Gaines was not afraid to show readers how unfair the nation was in the 1940’s. He depicted southern society as racist and unfair to anyone that was ethnically diverse.
In A Lesson Before Dying, a black man is getting blamed and put to death because he is black. The jury doesn’t want to look past the skin color of the prisoner, Jefferson. They put him to death because the prosecutor said that, Jefferson and the two other, dead black men purposely went in the bar to rob the old man then kill him. Jefferson was simply, as his lawyer says, “…at the wrong place at the wrong time.” I think the writer, Ernest Gaines, thinks that the scenario is filled with injustice and that the world at that time period was hateful and cruel.
ReplyDeleteThe book shows the hardships that African-American’s had by telling the reader about how the town was set up. On the up side of town there was a Catholic Church, a movie theater, two elementary schools, stores, banks, dentists’, doctors’, the courthouse and jail, and more, for whites only. Of course, on the back of the town, there were two elementary schools, a movie theater, and a Catholic church for blacks. As you can see the town could basically be two separate towns, one for blacks, and one for whites. The schools on the white side of town had better supplies than the black schools on the back side of town. I think Ernest Gaines wrote this book because he wanted people to know that the white people at that time were trying, not fully but trying to not segregate black from white.
The African-Americans were still being treated as animals anyway. In trial, Jefferson was called a “boy”, “fool”, “animal”, and a “hog”. The whites said that he was not even smart enough to think of any plans to go and rob the bar and kill someone. Gaines wrote the book to show that back in the 1940’s, even though African-Americans had rough times, that they were still strong and stayed faithful in what they believed.
In the book, a teacher named Grant Wiggins was strong willed and tough on his students. He was rough with the students because he wants them to be successful when they get older. He wants them to be as educated as they can be and live their lives better than he did when he was young. Grant was really smart and had great common sense, he made himself watch what he said to the whites because he knew that if he spoke in correct grammar that they would take offence to it. Mr. Wiggins played a big role in A Lesson Before Dying because he helped Jefferson to believe that he was a man and not an animal. He stood up for what he believed in and did not let anyone tell him otherwise, just like everyone should do.
Ernest Gaines didn’t write this book for fun, or for people to feel remorse for the way African-Americans were treated. No, he wrote the book because the 1940’s inspired him in a way unimaginable and he wanted to express himself to the world by telling this story. He wrote A Lesson Before Dying to show the importance of not judging a book by its cover, and not to think you’re better than anyone just by the way you look.
Sarah, I agree with you that both Grant and Jefferson changed and became heroes throughout the novel. Jefferson realized he was going to die, and there was nothing he could do about it but he was willing to make up for the lost time that he has wasted by not spending the last months, and days with his family. For Grant, I think within the whole experience he realized that life is a thing to not take for granted because it could go away in the quickest instant. Jefferson and Grant were talking at one point and Jefferson had made a statement as, “’Cause I’m go’n die soon? That make me a man, Mr. Wiggins?” You really start to tell that Grant is changing when he responds, “My eyes were closed before this moment, Jefferson. My eyes have been closed all my life. Yes, we all need you. Every last one of us.”
ReplyDeleteThroughout the book, A Lesson Before Dying, Ernest J. Gaines stresses the themes on injustice, life values, and pride. This novel draws attention to the many problems between white people and black people that occurred during the 1940s. I think Gaines is expressing his own feelings about the injustice towards African-Americans since he had his own experience with it, growing up working on a plantation. Despite his negative feelings towards the mistreatment towards black people, another big point in his novel is to have pride in yourself and to not let anyone take that away from you.
ReplyDeleteJefferson was sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit. He didn’t get a fair trial because he is black. The jury, the judge, and the lawyers were all white. He didn’t have a chance of getting acquitted because the predominately white society was not going to give the benefit of the doubt to a poor black man. This shows how inhumane and unsympathetic white people could act towards black people in the 1940s.
In an effort to get Jefferson acquitted, his lawyer calls him a hog and says he is incapable of thinking for himself. His lawyer says, “You do not see anything capable of planning a robbery. He does not even know the size of his clothes or shoes.” His own lawyer is playing upon on the stereotype of that time that black people are uneducated. Grant visits Jefferson in jail to help him become a man before he is executed. In the beginning, Jefferson truly believes that he is nothing but a hog and proceeds to behave like one. He eats like a pig and he refuses to talk to anyone, even his aunt. However, Grant instills life values upon Jefferson by showing him that he is better than them and teaching him how to endure his sentence like a proud and heroic person. Before Jefferson is executed, he exemplifies what it is to be proud by treating those who wronged him with politeness. When the executioner and Paul go into his cell to shave his head, he greets them by standing up and turning off his radio. After the execution, Paul, the white jail man described Jefferson as “the strongest man in the room.” I think Gaines wanted to show that black people such as Jefferson could overcome adversity and still succeed in a world that is against him.
Another major point that Gaines make in the book is pride. In the beginning of the book, Grant is whiney and almost child-like. He treats his aunts and students badly and he is a very selfish person. I think this occurs because he has no pride in himself. He is always being put down by the white community. But Grant forms a strong bond with Jefferson and they learn from each other. Grant teaches Jefferson how to have respect for himself and Jefferson teaches Grant how to have respect for other people. Near the end of the book, Grant finally shows pride in himself and he stands up for what he believes in. After Jefferson is executed, Grant cries in front of the class he is teaching. I think this shows that Grant has finally willing to show his emotions instead of covering up his feelings by treating people with disrespect. To be able to cry in front of your class shows that he has pride not only in himself, but in Jefferson also.
Ernest Gaines wrote A Lesson Before Dying to express his personal feelings about prejudice, respect, and pride. This book vividly portrays the every day struggle black people went through in the 1940s. They battled racism and scorn but still managed to go throughout their day with strength. It is also about the growth of two people and their journey in overcoming the unfairness of society with self-respect and confidence.
In A Lesson Before Dying, Gaines’ purpose is to bring attention to the unjust treatment of African Americans. The narrator is Grant Wiggins, a black schoolteacher whose task is to help a man in jail die like a man. I think that Grant narrating the book shows you the different point of views between a white man and a black man. Many people know how white people felt about slavery and African Americans but they aren’t always able to realize what it was actually like to be treated how African Americans were treated back then. Grants personal opinions and thoughts help readers understand the fact that no matter what people did they constantly felt like they were getting nowhere in life because of their social status. African Americans in A Lesson Before Dying are basically degraded throughout the whole book and this is to show the “vicious cycle” that black men have been trying to break for hundreds of years.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Gaines was trying to focus on the importance of pride throughout this book. Many characters show the importance of pride, for example, Grant Wiggins and Miss Emma. Miss Emma is determined to have her godson, Jefferson, die like a man when it is time. After being compared to a hog, Miss Emma doesn’t want Jefferson to give the white men of the court the satisfaction of being right. She wants to prove to everyone that a black man doesn’t always run from his problems or accept the fact that the white men are always right. Grant shows pride differently from Miss Emma by always having the opinion that he is better than everyone else in his community. Grant feels that he is too educated to be “trapped” and he feels that he is being held back by the ignorance of the white men in his community. After being degraded by the sheriff and others, Grant is assured that the only way to solve his problems with the ignorance is to leave. Throughout the book he expresses his feelings of being trapped to Vivian, his girlfriend, but she constantly reminds him that running away won’t solve his problems and he needs to face them. Another person who shows the importance of pride towards the end of the book is Jefferson. When the day finally comes where he goes to the electric chair, his last words were to tell his godmother that he walked. He showed that he was the strongest man in that room even though everyone had portrayed him as nothing more than a hog. When Paul tells Grant about how Jefferson was the strongest man in the room he explains that everyone watching had a shoulder to lean on but Jefferson walked alone. I think this shows the difference between false pride and true pride. Throughout the book many of the white men acted cocky and confident but in the end Jefferson was the one that was able to realize what was truly important, break that “vicious cycle”, and finally prove to the white community that they aren’t superior.
Blake Parkes (pd 4)
ReplyDeleteA Lesson Before Dying is a well written novel, about two men, and their struggles to find themselves. Throughout the novel, there is a clear barrier between, not only the blacks and the whites, but being a man, and not being a man. Gaines’ main point about society in the mid 1900’s, says that Americans only view whites as humans, and blacks are seen as animals, that “strike quickly out of fear…”, this is validated at the trail, when Jefferson is crudely called a hog.
This novel shows the cruelty of the white race, and their belief that they are superior. This point is confirmed, when Grant thinks to himself, “How do people come up with a date and time to take life from another man? Who made them God?” As we look back on the society in A Lesson Before Dying, their enormous amounts of disrespect, seem like torture for the black race, however, this is all that the whites knew. They knew they were greater, and the blacks were lesser.
Gaines is expressing the reality that American society has been affected by racial discrimination, and always will be. From slavery, when blacks were seen as animals and “things”, to the 13th amendment, the official abolishment of slavery in 1865, to now in 2010, when blacks and whites are seen as one and the same, the racial barrier has been broken. For example, President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the USA, being the first black man to hold this position. But, why did it take so long for an African American to be elected into this office? Has that racial barrier really been completely broken? Or are there small remnants of that barrier still standing today? In my opinion, the racial barrier has been completely broken, simply by the fact that we elected our first black president to run the United States.
We see that the barrier of the races has been chipped, near the end of the book, when Paul, the white deputy, and Grant, the black teacher, shake hands. However, the barrier of the races had not been completely broken, because the whites still sentenced Jefferson to death. Because of the huge black vs. white barrier, friendly interaction and friendship between a black and white man is a large chip from the racial barrier. Paul is one of the few people in the novel that starts to realize that blacks and whites should be treated equally, and he attempts to do this with Grant.
By writing this novel, Ernest Gaines notes how unreasonable society and white people are. He does this in such a convincing manner, which makes me wish I could go back in time and show them now, how bad they are treating these humans, who are no smaller than us. This novel attempts to show the equality in blacks and whites, however it shows the ignorance and cruelties of whites, and makes them seem as the lesser race, for how they treat the blacks.
Responding to Megan:
ReplyDeleteI agree with Megan’s point about how sometimes Grant had to lower himself, and not act as smart, because the whites would be insulted. The whites would not only be insulted, they would probably be angry. The white people would take it that Grant was trying to prove he, a black man, was smarter than a white man. An example of this in the book is; “Guidry drank from his cup and looked over the rim at me. He did not like me; I was one of the smart ones.”
Also, Megan made another point in this same paragraph, about Paul befriending Grant. One good example of this is in the beginning of Chapter 22, Grant says, “When I came into the office, Paul looked me straight in the face. He knew it was unnecessary to search me and the food, but he knew he had to do it. … The chief deputy sat behind the desk, watching everything. To him, this was how things were supposed to be, and how they would be.” Paul is a good man, however the Chief Deputy is one of the men whom treats Grant as much, much lesser. The Chief Deputy is also one of the people who Grant has to act stupid in front of, because Grant’s education would irritate and anger the deputy. I think that the deputy knows how smart Grant is, and this is why he treats Grant so poorly.
Ernest T. Gaines speaks clearly about American society in A Lesson Before Dying. Racism is extremely apparent in this book; in fact, it’s the whole purpose behind the plot. The lack of tolerance towards different groups of people has led to unnecessary violence and hatred, as evident in this book. Blacks aren’t trusted, live in lesser conditions than whites, and are considered to be inferior. They aren’t even allowed to walk in the same door as the white folk. Gaines is depicted a very real situation, not a simple fantasy of the mind. This horrific discrimination was, and still is, present in everyday society. Although we claim that we are tolerant towards all, racism isn’t, and never will be truly gone from our ways of thinking. It’s a twisted concept, however widely believed, that those of a certain skin color could be superior and more deserving than another complexion. White people don’t like to admit that, for hundreds of years, they enslaved thousands upon thousands of Africans, simply because whites were too lazy to work the fields themselves and too greedy to let such cheap labor pass them by. That would be admitting they had the horrid sickness that plagues minds and corrupts actions.
ReplyDeleteTreated as animals, Africans sadly began to view themselves as such, i.e. Jefferson. While trying to prove Jefferson innocent, the defendant labeled him as a stupid, inferior animal, a hog. The fact that he was trying to “help” hardly justifies his cruel words. As seen as the book goes on, Jefferson adopts a persistently apathetic attitude towards life because he sincerely believes that he is, in fact, a hog. One of the most vividly disturbing passages was when Jefferson got down on his hands and knees and ate as if he were actually a hog. I wonder if the white people ever thought about the damage their cruelty did to the psyches of the Africans? How could they possibly live with themselves after forcing a fellow human being to literally slave away all day in the blazing sun while they watching from the shade, cool drink in hand? Something must have desensitized them, possibly the promise of wealth. Money is the greatest motivator; sides of people that have never been seen before come out when money is dangled in front of them.
The higher up officials, like the sheriff, are so demeaning, to the point of smugness, towards anyone not of their skin color. Grant had to wait for over two hours for a white “superior” and his patience was simply shrugged off. Gaines wrote A Lesson Before Dying overflowing with evidence of an unbalanced social structure. His style of writing, along with personal experiences from the “wrong side of the fence,” proves how unfair life could be for a black person. This is a call for action for the time period in which this book was written, and even for present day. Gaines conveyed how important it is for us to see that we are, indeed, all equal and have the same rights. This is still relevant today, what with our “border issues” and the new “possible illegal immigrant” law in Arizona.
Dear All - I like your ongoing discussion of pride and the importance of human dignity. I also like that some of you are looking into Gaines' past to shed some light on his purpose for writing the book.
ReplyDeleteResponse to Karly:
ReplyDeleteI agree with Karly’s statement; Gaines grew up on a plantation in Louisiana, so, through this book, he is expressing his feelings about the poor treatment of blacks. Gaines is speaking through experience, he knows how terrible and wrong the treatment of blacks is. In the novel, I think Ernest Gaines is talking about himself. He may be depicting Grant as himself, since Gaines is a teacher, and also portraying Jefferson as himself, since Gaines was treated poorly growing up on a plantation.
Karly noted a big point in the novel; have pride in yourself, and not let anyone take that away from you. I think, in the beginning if the novel, Jefferson lets the whites get the best of him. We see this, when Jefferson says, “You brought some corn?...That’s what hogs eat,”. He also says, “I’m a old hog,” However, despite Jefferson’s doubt, and gloominess, like Karly said; they both learn from eachother, and Grant forms a very strong bond with Jefferson.
Response to Lauren Early:
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lauren, when she says, Grant has lost his hopes in making a difference in people’s lives. This really shows when he constantly puts his students down, and sometimes even makes them cry. However, I do not think he bullies his students because of his low self esteem. I think it is like Lauren previously said, he has no hope, and he feels he cannot help anyone, and he feels defeated. I do agree with the statement, “His lack of confidence is caused by the white people “above” him who constantly flaunt that fact.” Grant cannot become more than he is, because of the white people. This was mentioned in Megan’s post, he has to lower himself when he is around the whites.
Lauren includes the question, “What do you live for when you have nothing left?” In the case of Jefferson, he has to live to become or re-become a man. In the case of Grant, he has to live to see Jefferson become a man. By Jefferson becoming a man, this makes Grant a man, because he has finally accomplished something great.
Kaitlyn Bleth
ReplyDeleteIn response to Megan Perry
I agree with Megan that Grant’s focus in this book is to make a difference in the world. Whatever size of a difference it may be, small or large, he wants to see a change in the “vicious cycle” of the 1940s. He soon changed the cycle himself, which he influenced and made that certain difference, even if for only a short while. And with Jefferson he achieved his goal. His whole life he had been looking to make a difference in racist society, to show the whites how equal they are and how unjust the government really is.
His whole reason for becoming a teacher was to make some sort of change that he could maybe see. He didn't see it with teaching the kids, but with simply becoming a friend and mentor to Jefferson. He finally realizes that he did make an impact, to Jefferson, however small it may have been. But helping Jefferson realize that he truly could be a man and that it didn't depend on the opinion of another or the color of your skin, but your pride as a person and human being. Pride is needed to be a man.
In response to Lauren E…
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Grant treats his students and aunts badly because of his low self-esteem. He is constantly being treated with no respect by the white community and he begins to believe them. I also think that he is frustrated because he went to college and he is very educated but certain people such as Sam Guidry still expect him to act dumb and uneducated. They become angry with Grant when he says something too intelligently, even though Grant is most likely smarter than a great deal of white people.
Another sign of Grant’s low self-esteem is how he treats Vivian. She supports him throughout the whole book but he still acts disrespectful towards her. He ignores her and once tells her to “just be quiet.” However towards the end of the novel, Grant learns from Jefferson how to deal with his own problems instead of taking them out on other people. His attitude towards the students, his aunts, and Vivian greatly improves.
In response to Sara Goss
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sara in that there is a great deal of change in both Grant and Jefferson. Grant starts out in total denial that he can help Jefferson at all. He thinks that because Jefferson knows that he is going to die there is no point in trying to change him. Why try to change a dieing man? But once he realizes the mission he was given fully he becomes committed to try and change Jefferson and will not give up. While becoming friends with Jefferson and making him realize that he is indeed a man, he realizes that he himself has made the change he was seeking to make his whole life.
Jefferson starts out closed off and convinced that he IS a pig, just like the white man said.He stays like that a great deal of the book. Grant was just the reality and support he needed to notice that he is man and just as much of a man as anyone in that courtroom.
Pride and racism are the main two themes in this book and the two come together to form a book of reality and pride.
In response to Lauren Early
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree that the reason Grant was so strict to his students was because of his low self esteem. That might of played a little role but the reason is because thats how you were supposed to teach back then. The teacher was always supposed to be strict with their students, that's how it was. Back then it was ok for teachers to be as strict as to hit students with rulers, unlike nowadays.
I do agree that he has low self esteem though. All of society is against blacks and that wouldn't exactly raise anyones self esteem. Seeing no change in the cycle leaves him thinking that he will never be able to change anything,and leaves him without hope. Being with Jefferson, though, helps that I think. Realizing the difference he is making makes him proud and confident and more at peace with himself I think.
In response to Alex S…
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex that Jefferson was accused simply because he is a different race than the jury. Because he is black, the jury assumed that he was guilty. Basically, Jefferson was sentenced before he even had his trial. He was guilty until proven innocent. Even Jefferson’s lawyer called him a hog and said he was too stupid to understand what he was doing.
Also like Alex said, white people treated black people as if they were lower than them. Black people had to hide their intelligence so they didn’t offend them. When Grant went to Henry Pichot’s house, he had to enter through the back door. Grant also made sure to lower his eyes when he was done speaking with Pichot to show that he knows he is lower than him. I thought it was kind of ironic how some white people stressed that they were so much more superior than everyone else, when they really weren’t. The fat man at Pichot’s house is obviously unhealthy and all he does is drink and grunt in response. Dr. Jefferson is so large that he can’t walk very far without getting out of breath. Grant presents himself so much better than them, but yet he has to treat them as his superiors. This just proves how unjust the society was in the 1940s.
In response to Blake Parke's initial response
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Blake on her view of American society's racial discrimination. Gaines wanted to connect to the reader, try to relate to them how unjust society was in the 1940's, and how much progress we have made to this very day. Not two years ago we elected our first African-American president, and just as Blake said, it took 43 whole elections just to even get another ethnicity other than caucasian into office.
I likewise agree with Katelyn Bleth on Grant's teaching style. His motivation for being strict was not based upon his low self-esteem, which I don't even think he had, but instead for the traditional teaching in the school's in the 1940's. If he had a low self esteem then wouldn't he accept being talked down to by Mr. Guidry, where he obviously created his own jocularity to show that he was above his previous owner. But on the other hand I understand where Katelyn is coming from with Grant's talks with Jefferson, they both brought the best out of each-other by the end of the novel.
In response to Megan P…
ReplyDeleteI agree with Megan that the white community has a low opinion of the black community and the black schools. When Dr. Joseph inspects the school, he treats the children with disrespect. He inspects the children as a slave owner would inspect slaves; he made the children open their mouths very wide so he could examine their teeth. He also examined their hands. When Dr. Joseph leaves, he tells Grant, “You have an excellent crop of students, an excellent crop, Higgins.” He has said the same exact thing to Grant every year, which shows that Dr. Joseph is indifferent about the health of the black schools. He doesn’t care enough to actually make an effort; he just goes through the motion. The fact that Dr. Joesph repeatedly calls Grant by the wrong name, such as “Higgins” or “Washington” also proves this fact.
Dr. Joseph can’t seem to grasp the idea that the black children have to work to support their families. He doesn’t understand why they don’t have enough money to buy toothbrushes. He says, “Get them off their lazy butts, they can make enough for a dozen toothbrushes in one evening.” Grant tries to explain that the money they make while working goes towards their families so they can buy necessities like food and clothes. This also proves that Dr. Joseph doesn’t understand or care about the wellbeing of the black schools.
*Edit* In my last post to Alex, I talked about a fat man names Dr. Jefferson. I meant Dr. Joseph. Sorry about that!!!
In response too Sarah Goss:
ReplyDeleteThe part of the novel where Miss Emma emphasized her love for Jefferson was really touching for me, too. She wanted to be proud of Jefferson, to prove to the world that he wasn’t just another black person. It really irks me how people can write off people simply based on their skin color. That’s like picking a red, rather than a green, gummy bear to eat. Granted, that situation doesn’t have nearly as intense of social repercussions as racism, but the point is that neither racism nor ‘gummy bear’-ism is justified. Another example that has significantly more of an effect is the deal with the recent immigration law in Arizona. This law requires police to question people if there's reason to suspect they are illegally in the United States. I find it ironic that we put so much effort into saying we are free from racism, yet we pass as law practically legalizing it.
In response to Lauren Earley:
ReplyDeleteI believe that Grant is on a destructive cycle and that he is only dragging his students into the same cycle. The black community is continuously condemned, simply based on race. They dream of breaking free, yet it remains just that, a dream. Grant claims he is trying to help his students rise above the black stereotype. However, he only brings them down further, through needless verbal and physical abuse. His own insecurities cause him to take out his anger and frustrations on people around him, mainly the children who come to him for help, for an outlet. I think Grant’s pride is standing in the way of him truly being able to help his students. He doesn’t want to admit he didn’t achieve all his goals so he hinders those of other people. An example of this can be found within each and every person. Every one of us has had a dream that we never acted upon, never fulfilled.
*In my response to Sarah, I meant "to," not "too."*
In response to Megan Perry:
ReplyDeleteAlthough Paul was the only white character in the book to befriend a black character, I think it’s a rather significant step. It could foreshadow whites and blacks working together equally in the future. We, as a whole, still strive for that utopia, yet this may just be one of those things that are unattainable as long as the human race remains selfish and prideful. I’m glad that somebody in the book noticed how wrong and unjust the racism was in the community. Racism is demonized through literature, orators, everyday situations, etc., yet it remains still today, swept under the metaphorical rug. Whether people willingly discriminate against others nowadays or simply continue a practically subconscious “tradition,” if you will, is up to you. I really don’t understand how people can decide to shun fellow human beings, and then live with their conscience. I bet they would change their minds if the tables were turned.
I agree with you Karly on how Dr. Joseph degrades Mr. Wiggins’s class during the evaluation. He is telling him basically that he should be everything to the kids, as in he Dr., dentist, and teacher. He also says something to Wiggins as to the books and supplies in the school. Dr. Joseph just blows Mr. Wiggins off and is like well the white schools are just as bad too. He could have been telling the truth or just lying to Wiggins to get him off his back. Although Dr. Joseph makes a tiny effort to check out the student one by one on the academics, and the way they talk. He makes a little attempt to the evaluation but not a big one. He seamed like he didn’t want to be there, like it was a pain, or that he was irritated by being there. Like Karly said, he didn’t care or even try to understand the wellbeing of the black schools. As long as they were up to minimum code for the school board office then he was out of the school in a flash.
ReplyDeleteI agree and disagree with Kaitlyn’s response back to Lauren. I agree on disagreeing that Grant was so strict on his students because of his low self esteem. Kaitlyn, your explanation as to why you disagree is where I disagree because I think that Grant was so strict on his students was because he wasted the future kids of America to live a better life than most black people. He was hard on the students because he wanted to show that white men that they were not “…going to beat them into the nigger they were born to be.” He wanted to show them that they are wrong and can’t bring them down to “animals.” Grant wants his students to be responsible and smart enough to make something of their lives. I also agree that Mr. Wiggins did have low self esteem but none to go against his students. Grant wants to become something other than a teacher. He doesn’t want to be stuck in that town of his for all of his life. He wants to get away and be with Vivian and do something else with his life. Since he can’t leave the town yet he wants to make sure the kids, like I said, live a better life than him and most black people.
ReplyDeleteMy last post to Karly I meant “response” not “response”
Dear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that the story was in Grants point of view and that's one thing about this novel that I love. Its so easy to relate too because he is feeling much of the same things that we feel as kids. Around whites Grant cannot be himself or feels he has to lower his standards. Sometimes kids feel like they can't really talk "man to man" with adults.
You also mentioned how Grant and Jefferson really helped to change each other. I totally agree. They both, whether they knew it or not helped each other develop. It may have been a tad late for Jefferson but he still fulfilled his goal of becoming a man before his death. On the other hand Grant has a whole life ahead of him and can use this new found hope and positivity towards something great.
One other thing that I can connect to real life is that a man was convicted of rape and put in jail for 18 years. They now found DNA evidence supporting that he was innocent and is out of jail. The people in this novel didn’t even try to prove Jefferson’s innocence. They just assumed he was guilty.
Megan
I never thought about a solid purpose of the plot of this book besides for entertainment. It does make sense now that Gaines wanted to bring racism in the south to America's attention. There are many examples of the superiority the white people felt over the blacks and you did a good job pointing them out. I agree that there are still cases of racism today, but I suppose it's how the older generation was raised. I'm sure when we all grow up and have children the amount of racism will decrease because now we live in a place where its okay to mix and commingle.
ReplyDeleteWhen most of us think of racism we think of white versus blacks but things in America's past has made it very different. Even 9-11 brings racism into the picture. You can see the hostility most American's have towards most everyone who even "looks like a terrorist." Maybe it's calmed down since then but national security was very strict when everything happened, and airport security was not very discreet about their "random" security checks.
Blake, I agree that this is a well-written novel. I have to say it's one of my favorite books of all times, and definitely my favorite required reading book. I never really thought of the two men "trying to find themselves" but once you think about it, it does make perfect sense. Not only were they helping each other grow they were benefiting from it also. Grant was able to use the lessons learned from Jefferson in real life and become a better man than before. Jefferson was able to become a dignified man in the first place, which exceeded his godmother’s expectations of him.
ReplyDeleteI'm also glad you mentioned a border between not only white and blacks but also being a man and not being a man. I suppose this is why it took so long for Grant to get through to Jefferson. Besides him being stubborn, they were on two different levels. I’m sure it was hard for them to identify with one another.
I really like when you brought up Blake's point on their being a deeper border than just racism, what divides the men from the children. I really would like to understand what Grant's teacher was talking about when he told Grant that as long as he stayed home, that he would not prosper anything in his life and the only thing that would help him to experience life itself was "flight." I believe the author was talking about the rigid class structure of the white community at the top, deciding where the other races lie (at the bottom of course). Possibly telling him that if he was to ever experience true freedom in his life, away from racial prejudice and sterotyping would be to leave the tainted land that he was born into. But I don't think that is what the author was trying to say, because that actually is quite the contrary to the theme of perserverance Gaine's tries to tie in the whole story. If Grant were to just leave, just as he was looking forward to as his secret rendezvous, than he would ultimately be giving up on Jefferson and giving in to the thought that the white man was better than him just because of the color of his skin, so thus in him staying he is alluding to the theme of perserverance going against a society hellbent on watching him fail.
ReplyDeleteIn Response To Sarah G
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that once Jefferson's book is read, it shows just how strong he was. Granted, before then you start to see some signs of strength. But it took reading his actual words (despite the atrocious spelling and grammar) to understand what he was truly feeling and going through. I also noticed and quite liked how the choice of Grant as a main character was very interesting. It would be easier to just show the unequal treatment and hardships black men went through, but that wasn't Gaines whole purpose or theme. By using Grant as that narrator and showing his point of view on everything, you not only see how the sentencing of one man affected that same man. You are able to see Jefferson's progression towards maturing into a man, and you also see the eefect his path has on other characters. In this way, Gaines shows various aspects of pride, and how it affects the treatment of people and their quality of life.
In Response to Megan Anderson...
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the fact that all of the white people with any sort of power in this book are proud to the point of smugness. However, I was surprised time and time again by Sam Guidry's tolerance towards Jefferson and his visits. Even though he clearly does not like the idea of somebody visiting Jefferson, he allows Grant to go. He just as easily could have seen that Grant did not want to go, and said no. When the godmother wants to visit with Jefferson in the day room, the sheriff asks Jefferson how he feels about it. Again, even though Jefferson says he doesn't care and Guidry could have said no, he relented. As much trouble as he first appears to give them all, he actually is essential in Jefferson's process of becoming a man. Certainly, he makes it as difficult as possible. But in the end, he allows everything they hoped for to happen.
Just a quick comment...
ReplyDeleteI completely and totally agree with Alex Swafford's last response. Why else would Grant always talk of leaving, yet always allow himself to come back? Grant, as a character, desperately wants a way to spit back into the arrogant white men's faces, and him becoming a teacher and being intelligent is the only way he can do that. By staying, he is a man. Although he has lost his common passion for humanity, he really learns from Jefferson. It's actually quite ironic, like one of those "student teaches the teacher" moments. Grant may be a teacher, but he still has so much to learn about himself, his life, and how to be a good man. There is a difference, after all, from a good man and a bad man.
Sarah Goss in response to Blake Parkes:
ReplyDeleteI really liked when you talked about the quote from the novel about setting Jefferson’s execution date. It’s so strange when you really think about it. Most people are going to die of natural causes or when God decides it is time. Although, there is a lot of controversy on this subject in today’s society, but our legal system doesn’t convict a person of a crime because of their race. I also think that your reference to President Obama is very interesting. It is ironic how it has taken until now to have a black president. At the same time though, I have to wonder if maybe it’s because there has always been white men running for president. What are your thoughts on that aspect?
In response to Megan Perry:
ReplyDeleteI think I heard about that, and it reminded me of this story as well. They had no proof even against Jefferson. They didn’t even try to obtain proof. I found it really upsetting that he was sentenced to death because he is black! It is so unfair. I think that Gaines really does show that this type of thing really did happen during this time period. Our society has really “grown up” since this time. Race isn’t as big of an issue anymore. We don’t judge people by their skin color.
I also agree with you about how Grant can now use what he learned towards doing or being something great. That is very true and I couldn’t agree more!
In response to Megan Anderson:
ReplyDeleteI really like how you described the situation with gummy bears, as interesting as it is! It was very clever! I also find it very aggravating when throughout the story; people were just assuming Jefferson was guilty because of his skin color. The law in Arizona is very interesting because our country is free..but there are some things that are still racist. But in a way, I don’t think that the laws in Arizona are racist. The US is simply trying to protect our borders. If people want to migrate here, they should go through the process of getting a visa, or work on their citizenship status. Nothing is stopping immigrants from crossing the border legally. The laws are simply for the protection of the people who are already here. I completely respect what you are saying, this was just a thought!
In response to Blake...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Blake and how it’s not only a barrier between races, but it’s also a barrier between being a man and not being a man. Throughout the book African Americans are not viewed as men but as animals no matter what their intelligence level is. For example, Grant is seen as Jefferson’s equal and is also treated that way just because he is the same race. I also agree with how she brought of the fact that there still might be remnants of the barriers today. I think that the “vicious cycle” that Grant talked about throughout the book has finally been broken and almost everyone sees men of all colors as equal.
In response to Karly Knechtel...
ReplyDeleteI never thought about it in depth when Dr. Joseph came to inspect the black school, it just seemed to me that Dr. Joseph, like you said, didn't really care about inspecting him, he just went through the motion. I really liked the analogy you used to describe that situation, "He inspects the children like a slave owner inspecting slaves, he made the children open their mouths very wide so he could examine their teeth. He also examined their hands." That really opened my eyes to where he wasn't really checking for the status of the school, just for new recruitments to his plantation.
Also in response to what Caitlin McClellan said about the "vicious cycle" of racism that has been broken, I feel that this cycle has always been lingering amongst us in society, and truly hasn't been broken down until we elected our first African-American President. That was the symbolic action that showed America was truly ready to stop racism in it's tracks, by electing an African-American President to lead our country, I don't believe there could have been any other way for that barrier to be broken.
Thank you to all the participants!
ReplyDelete