July 11, 2011
Pages 152 - 167
Chapters 20 - 21
The most significant parts of these chapters has to be 1.) Jefferson's execution date being set for April 8th. It is 2 weeks after Easter. I see the relevance to Easter as what makes it so important. Easter is the day of Christ resurrection. Not saying Jefferson is God, but maybe he can symbolize a savior to the community. And as it took Jesus' death for the world to know him as a savior, it will take Jefferson's teach the community he is a savior to the African Americans in society.
Which brings me to reason 2.) Grant explaining why it is so important for Jefferson to die a man. Grant tells Vivian that what Miss Emma wants is Jefferson to break a "vicious circle" that has been continuing the past 300 years. Which is black men leaving their families in a cowardly way. He told her of slaves running away, or just being broken and laying down to the white men's rules. It's important to Miss Emma that Jefferson believes he is a man so he can die with pride for his ancestry, something that has yet to happen in their family's history.
So why is Jefferson shutting down an idea that carries so much importance? He has a chance to prove that, while white men can kill him, they can't tell him who he is, and he's proud of that. Miss Emma knows that Grant can't make Jefferson believe this alone anymore. She thinks he need Reverend Ambrose too. Which makes sense, to have two prominent figures in the black community to show that the status quo that has been set by their ancestors, can be changed. Also with the connection to Easter and Jesus, a man of God might be needed to reach Jefferson.
The juxtaposition of Easter to Jefferson's execution makes me think it is symbolic in someway. Jefferson' execution was to be 12 days after Easter Sunday. So I looked in the Bible to see if anything significant happened 12 days after Jesus' resurrection. While nothing happened 12 days after, 8 days after he was raised from the dead he made an appearance to one of his disciples, Thomas. Then he told Thomas "peace be with you... Don't be faithless any longer. Believe! (John 20:27)" This could be taken as if Jefferson is Thomas and Grant is Jesus. Grant is trying to get Jefferson to be at peace with who he is and not only that but to believe in himself, and that there is a good, wonderful man in him. I think this just signifies the importance of Jefferson needing to have believe in himself, and how Grant is reaching through to him, as Jesus did with Thomas.
John 20:27, . The Holy Bible: iConnect. New Living Translation Second Edition. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, INC, 2005. 929. Print.
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