July 12, 2011
Pages 226 - 256
Chapters 29 - 31
Finally it's over. Jefferson walked to the chair, like a man, and died in a way that made not only his community proud, but the white community as well. He was the strongest one in the room. The final chapters have thoughts from other people's point of views. Some white, some black, but Jefferson's execution made an impact on all. This is because he showed everyone that it is possible to break away from what is expected of you, and that one person can make a difference.
I think the constant biblical references were trying to show the need for someone to have faith in a God, or else the won't have anything to live for. Once Jefferson and Grant both started to accept God, both found peace in themselves. Also to compare Christ's death to Jefferson's. Jefferson was, in a way, a savior. He showed the white people that black are humans. He show that white people are no better than blacks. He saved his people from being stuck in a pattern that had occurred for the past 300 years, and would continue if he has not done what he did. Most importantly, he showed Grant what it meant to truly love someone and how to open himself to new friendship.
But how does he do this? How is his death any different then anyone elses? What makes his death so influential. Just claiming it isn't enough, give me some detail.
ReplyDeleteJefferson's death was important because it was the first time any African American stood up, and didn't just accept what the white men said. Grant hated himself because whatever white people told him, just what he did and thought. He would even speak using proper English something, because the white people didn't like that. But Jefferson proved his lawyer wrong. He showed the community he wasn't a hog. A hog would not walk with his head held high, to his death. A hog would not show respect to the men who put him to death. Jefferson did. The old saying, actions speak louder than words is true here. Jefferson looked those men in the eye, not with anger, or bitterness, or in a way that he appeared to be beneath them, but he looked at them as if he considered himself an equal. That's what impacted was. That he showed white men he was more than "nigger," but a man who thought the same way as they did.
ReplyDeleteMuch more thorough thank you :)
ReplyDelete