The things that might or actually happend in this world

Erika Tyler

Dr. Broadous

PAS113B

4/25/12

The things that might or actually happend in this world

There are a lot of people in this world that is struggling with their life and stress out because some people lose their faith just like this quotes “Faith must be enforced by reason when faith becomes blind it dies”.  Jefferson in a Lesson before Dying is the perfect example for this quote because he loses his faith by living in racist society, nobody wants to help him because he’s a black men. During this time of period Black people were slaves. There was no freedom for them, so it is not surprise to know that they lose their faith because of this harmful action that white people did.

Around 1940’s the black people were forced to work without pay, under threat of violence, and they’re unable to walk away. You can find them in factories, mines, farm fields, restaurants, construction sites and private homes. Many slaves have been tricked by traffickers who lure vulnerable people with false promises of good jobs or education. Some slaves are marched to work at gunpoint. Slavery is illegal everywhere, but it happens nearly everywhere. As you can see the main big part about being slavery is a no freedom, no choice and the last one is no money.

For example in the book, character whose name is Dr.Joseph. Who is a superintendent of a school. Well Dr. Joseph sees the black children as physical laborers and implies blacks should be working in the fields as they did when they were slaves. He compliments Grant’s class by calling it a “good crop” racist language that suggests Dr. Joseph thinks of the students as objects, not people just because they are black.

At the beginning in this book, you could already tell that Jefferson might lose his faith because he’s a black man and he had to deal with the court which he knew he would get sended to the jail because he’s a black guy and nobody wants to help him and even though grants tries to help him it didn’t work because he’s a black men too. And especially if everybody is white at the court it is no chance to get away from the trouble that Jefferson hasn’t done.

In this book Ernest J. Gaines writes about the black people’s lives. How they were back in. how they were treated by people. What they thought while living during the slavery. In this book, Jefferson is who had to face a court and jail even though he’s an innocent guy because he is black in a racist society; the law will not help Jefferson. The jurors are not even asked to consider the legality of the situation. Rather, they are asked to acquit him because he is a pathetic creature for the white people. Black man is guilty until proven innocent. Under the law, the prosecution has to prove Jefferson’s guilt, but under the rules of convention in this racist society, the prosecution must only concoct a vague theory based on no evidence. Jefferson’s attorney defends his client not by using the evidence, but by damning Jefferson as a hog and a fool too stupid to plan such a crime and all these things cause Jefferson to lose his faith. In his diary he also explain that his faith in friendship with Grant, not really in God. Jefferson doesn’t know he rather put his faith in religion since a lot of people said different things to him because in the book the characters will say “heaven does not exist for blacks, but Reverend Ambrose says heaven is for all people” so this is why Jefferson wasn’t sure about it.

Although at end before Jefferson die he didn’t matter anything about what white people does to him. Mr. Pichot shows some compassion toward Jefferson by offer to Sharpe his pencil and gives him the knife as a gift. Also this guy name Guidry in the book offers to leave the light on so Jefferson can write and he also allowed numerous visitors to see Jefferson. All he cared and worries was about grant because grant is someone who convinced Jefferson that he is a somebody that is a worth it and he also influence to face his death with almost superhuman calm and understanding.

As matter fact before Jefferson died he told grants that “you are a wonderful teacher for helping me” , but Grant says that he did very little and that maybe Jefferson caused the change. And in his diary Jefferson also said that he was singing and the blue sky in the last few hours before his death. Before he died Jefferson transformation into a dignified, compassionate exemplary human being and also he becomes more strongly identified with god before he died. He became very strong men in the room.  He also made Grants thoughts about Jefferson in major difference because in the final chapter grant asks Jefferson to forgive him and says, “My faith is in you, jefferson”. As For Grant, Jefferson has become a hero to emulate in times of despair.