MPR News states that the population of black, driving-age citizens in the city of St. Paul is about one-fourth that of whites, yet African-Americans made up about half of the people St. Paul police officers stopped and ticketed between 2012 and 2014. In Ernest J. Gaines’ book, A Lesson Before Dying, racial injustice plays an important role in the conflicts of the book. Being treated as inferior impacts the lives of Jefferson, Grant, and Miss Emma, which challenges how they perceive themselves.
To begin with, Jefferson does not get the same treatment in his trial as a white man would because he is black. He is presumed to be guilty from the start. The narrator, Grant, said, “. . . we all knew, what the outcome would be. A white man had been killed during a robbery, and though two of the robbers had been killed on spot, and one had been captured, and he, too, would have to die” (4). Everyone, even his family, knew that he would be convicted solely because of the color of his skin. Jefferson’s attorney argues that Jefferson is a hog and is not intelligent enough to plan a murder. When …show more content…
Despite working as Pichot’s housekeeper and cook for most of her life, she has to beg Henri Pichot for a small favor to allow Grant to talk with Jefferson. “‘. . . I just want to see him die like a man. This family owe me that much, Mr. Henri. And I want it. I want somebody to do something for me one time ’fore I close my eyes . . . Mr. Henri. Please, sir’” (22). Even though she has done a lot for his family, Henri makes her beg and plead for a small favor because she is black. Unlike Grant and Jefferson, when treated inferior, Miss Emma fights to change racial injustice, even if she isn’t successful. “‘I don't want them to kill no hog,’ she said. ‘I want a man to go to that chair, on his own two feet’” (13). Miss Emma is trying to change the way society views and treats black people, even if it is only a little at a