Social Lessons from "A Lesson Before Dying"
Social Lessons from "A Lesson Before Dying"
Can an ignorant society be a productive society? Is the loss of civil liberties justified by the economic betterment of man? The idea that one race is stronger, faster, smarter, and better than another is an example of racial ignorance which is well documented in the world. As we look at our past, it is easy to pass judgment on our forefathers as they raped the dignity and humanity out of the black men, who they thought were unfit to be equal to them. Was it not up to the black race as a whole to stand up against their white oppressors to shed some light on their ignorant thoughts? It was up to the black people to do this, however those who took a stand were thrust back down, those who spoke up were silenced, and those who stood their ground were persecuted by a justice system in place to guarantee the rights of the white man. This message of white superiority over the blacks, beat down the blacks hope for the future, and made them into mindless drones, without thoughts. Most of the black men had no education and they were forced into the cotton fields, but a few were able to break the rules, while others let the white men get to them and lost all hope. There were many ways to deal with the white man, you could either sit down and let him destroy your spirit, or you could fight a futile battle for civil rights and liberties. In the late 1940’s, at the dawn of the understanding of racial rights, should the black men and women have fought for equality, or run away? Should they have met the battle head on, or given up in futility?
Since slaves were captured in Africa and brought on boats to North America, the blacks have been treated like second class citizens, because in many respects they were. The book A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines shows a lot about this time period when the blacks were second class citizens in the late 1940’s. The book is a documentation of racial ignorance, and more so, how people deal with that racial ignorance. On one hand you have those who are willing to fight the oppression, and on the other there are those who wish to run away and escape it all.
Miss Emma...