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connections, thoughts

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines is a book that is worth reading. From start to finish the book has the reader hooked. From this book I learned a out some of the struggles that African Americans would face. I learned that there were people who would in a way follow what the white would say and how they expected Africans to behave but there were also those like Wiggins who would stand up for themselves and show that they too are human being capable of having an education. A major thing in the book that surprised me was the second to last chapter. In that chapter it showed us the perspective of other people outside of the people close to Jefferson. We were able to have an inside look at what other African Americans and some whites were thinking. That surprised me because it’s not something that I wouldn’t have expected the writer to do. But I’m happy that he sis it because it was a part of the book were we were able to see not only Jefferson’s story but that of other people. Something in the book that sis not surprise me was that Deputy Paul became close with Jefferson and Wiggins. I expected the writer to put someone in the book that was white and sympathized with what was happening with the African American people.

I believe that it says that the state of race relationships now in the United States are a lot better them what they were in the past. African Americans are no longer seen as people with no education. We know that African Americans are humans and that they are capable of achieving great things in life. A big example that we have is the current president of the United States. Event though there is still areas for improvement times have changed and gotten better. This book related to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because it speaks about African Americans and their experiences in life. In Huckleberry Finn we see that Jim is seen as property but as the book progresses we are able to see a change in Huck and his view on slavery, the book is making a commentary on slavery and treatment of African Americans. A Lesson Before Dying also makes a commentary about African Americans and how they should be treated equally as any other human being. Both of them are showing the wrongs of treating people differently because of race.

Ending thoughts

The ending of A Lesson Before Dying left me absolutely speechless. The end was simple yet powerful. The line where it said “I was crying” was a moment of realization. At that time of the book we see the attachment that Wiggins had made with Jefferson. I loved reading this book because the characters throughout the story have a lot of development. Wiggins is a different person than from what he was in the beginning of the book. To me it seems that Wiggins grew up and learned to accept life in a better manner. One aspect of the book that I enjoyed reading and believe was a genius idea on the author behalf is chapter 30. Chapter 30 was an extremely powerful chapter. I believe it’s a powerful chapter because we see different perspectives of how it affected other people, not only blacks but also whites.

Throughout this whole book I have read the chapters relatively fast but when it came to the last two chapters I found myself slowing down. When it cam to the last chapters I began to read in a lower pace. I was taking in all the information and emotions that the characters where feeling. In the book the event that happened with Jefferson was huge. It was an event that changed many peoples life. in the last chapter a moment that I believed was s big deal was when Paul and Wiggins were talking. In their conversation and how they interacted with each other it was a kind of message that things were changing and that one day whites and blacks would be able to live with each other in peace and would accept each other.

In the novel A Lesson Before Dying Grants attitude is changing, and he is forming a closer connection with Jefferson. Two symbols that Grants attitude towards Jefferson and the situation he is in are the radio, and notebook. Those two objects represent the change in Grant and his willingness to help Jefferson as well as his own personal development and acceptance of who he is.

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Protagonist

We cannot change all situations that we are put in, but we can change our attitude towards them. In the novel A Lesson Before Dying the protagonist’s name is Grant. Grant is put into a situation that he does not enjoy and wishes he was not in. He is being pressured to visit Jefferson in jail when it is something that he doesn’t want to do. Throughout the beginning of the novel he is struggling with whom he is and what he wants to do with his life. But now as the novel is advancing, his attitude towards the situation he is in, is changing. He is being friendlier with Jefferson and is actually making a connection with him. It moves me that even though he started off not wanting to do anything with Jefferson he has now embracing it and trying to make a difference in Jefferson’s life. While reading the novel the development of Grant is extremely obvious. He is no longer having a great struggle with where he is. He still has some doubt and wishes he were somewhere else, but he is having a major attitude change. He has now embraced the fact that he is in the situation and therefore should make the best of it and not dwell on what he doesn’t have and what he wishes he could be doing.

If I were to be put in Grants situation, I believe I would have acted in the same way he did in the beginning. I would have not been happy at all and I would have been very angry. I am the type of person who doesn’t like being told what to do. If someone tells me I have to do something and they make me do it by making me feel guilty and manipulating me I would furious. I would do it but when doing it I would have been in the worst mood and have the absolute terrible attitude. But at the same time I believe I would eventually cool down and if what I’m doing is something good that is going to help someone else my attitude would quickly change.

teaandthoughtswithchilan-deacti

By sending Grant to school, Tante Lou believes that she is giving him a better future and chance in life. However, Grant battles with education because it makes him even more aware of his boundaries and limitations. Although Grant values his education, it makes him more aware of the racial...

alessonbeforedying13-blog

I really like the way in which you wrote that Grant feels negatively towards education, because i too feel that he has very bad way of viewing education because he believes teaching somehow is holding him back. But i don't believe that he thinks he will never be worthy enough to be smarter than a white person. I think he believes that he is equally smart as a white person but is frustrated because he doesn't get recognition for it. I believe he is frustrated that he is teaching the kids instead go going out into the world and doing other things with his life.

mariasofia97

I watched a movie a couple years ago which reminded me of this book. Actually, another reason which I choose this book because when I made my research it reminded me of this movie, The Green Mile. Just like A Lesson Before Dying this movie is about a black man sentenced to death and he was...

alessonbeforedying13-blog

I really like your comparison to the movie The Green Mile. i too have seen the movie and agree with you that the movie can be related to A Lesson Before Dying. There is a connection between both the main characters because they are both convicted of something they did not do. the only thing they are guilty of is being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Both of the main characters in the book and movie seem to be nice people of mean no harm.

Reaction to Novel and plot so far

A Lesson Before dying is a truly captivating book; from the beginning it immediately captures the readers interest. The theme in the book is something that I believe everyone can relate to. In life we are all trying to discover our true identity and ourselves. Not everyone is happy with where they currently are in life and wish they could be in a different position. But sometimes our struggles in life help us to build strong character. The theme of the novel is being well developed through the entire story. There are many areas in the book that can be related to people life. It is a novel that can be easily relatable not only to the people from that time period but as well to people in modern society.

In the novel Wiggins struggles with his identity and what he is doing in life. He wishes he had a better life and better standing in society. Wiggins is the type of person who say they are going to leave and never return, but in reality he loves where he is. Even though he may wish to leave the town he doesn’t because that is his home and where he is most comfortable. In the novel so far we can se slight improvement in Wiggins attitude towards life. He has received great news and is now starting to speak with Jefferson in a better attitude. I really enjoy reading the book because the development of the characters is interesting to see. I enjoy seeing the how Wiggins and Jefferson's attitudes are developing in the story and i am looking forward to reading how there characters develop together and what they do in the novel to better the human that they are.

Questions for Book club part 1

In A Lesson Before Dying education is very important in the novel. In the novel Grant is a teacher and he has very contradicting feelings towards education. Grant believes that education is a very important set of skills that have to be learned in order to succeed in life. Many instances Grant demonstrates his education in order to show that he is not uneducated and is capable of talking like the white people do. He believes that education can make African Americans grow in society and be seen as more than just slaves and a source of entertainment to the white people. When speaking to the sheriff he makes sure to speak in a proper manner in order to demonstrate to the sheriff that he too is capable of speaking in a civilized manner. Even though Wiggin’s views education as an important life skill, he does not enjoy teaching it. In the Wiggins says, "i don't want to spend the rest of my life teaching school in a plantation church...I don't feel alive here. Im not living here" (Gaines 29). Wiggins has problems accepting the fact that he is a teacher because he believes that he wont make an impact in the children’s life. He believes that at the end of he day they wont put the skills that they have been taught to use. Wiggins believes that teaching at the school is setting him back form going somewhere else and enjoying his life. Even though he views education as important he can at times struggle with teaching it to others.

In he novel another character that views education as a life skill that has to be learned to succeed in life is Miss. Emma. Miss. Emma believes that education and being seen as a person who is civilized and well mannered is important. Miss. Emma believes that people should want to be seen as equal and not as lesser human beings who aren’t educated. Her importance for education is seen when she sends Wiggins to Jefferson so that he can teach him and make him into a “man”. In the novel Mis. Emma says "I want a man to go to that chai, on his own two feet" (Grant 13). Miss Emma did not like the fact that Jefferson was called a hog. Jefferson being called a hog was something that greatly bothered Miss. Emma because they were comparing him to an animal and not a human being. It is clearly demonstrated that Miss. Emma holds education in a high respect and wishes for her godson Jefferson to have an education and be seen as a man and not a hog.

gl360

"But uncle, what happen’s if the cop is really mean?"

ummunity-deactivated20170730

todaysdocument

Happy Birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968

Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. [Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking.], 08/28/1963

Rowland Scherman, photographer. From the Records of the U.S. Information Agency

See all our previous Martin Luther King, Jr. posts, and the recent series from the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

boxingsgreatest

“Boxing is a sport where you can never take anything for granted. The smallest margin of error alter your career…and life. To succeed, skill and talent alone is not enough, but instead, the will to win is worth much more.”

"The Brown Bomber" Joe Louis Vs Billy Conn

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During infield practice the Redleg players were screaming at Jackie with all of the usual hateful epithets. And then the venom was distributed to Reese. They were yelling things at him like “How can you play with this (epithet)?”, as Jackie stood uncomfortably at first base. Pee Wee went over to him and put his arm around him and smiled. A silence fell over the Reds dugout and the fans witnessing this amazing act of grace, Jackie smiled back.

At Reese’s funeral, Joe Black, another Major League Baseball black pioneer, said:

“Pee Wee helped make my boyhood dream come true to play in the Majors, the World Series. When Pee Wee reached out to Jackie, all of us in the Negro League smiled and said it was the first time that a White guy had accepted us. When I finally got up to Brooklyn, I went to Pee Wee and said, ‘Black people love you. When you touched Jackie, you touched all of us.’ With Pee Wee, it was No. 1 on his uniform and No. 1 in our hearts.”

Robinson later wrote this sentiment to Reese in a book inscription.

“Pee Wee whether you are willing to admit what you being just a great guy meant (a great deal) to my career, I want you to know how much I feel it meant. May I take this opportunity to say a great big thanks and I sincerely hope all things you want in life be yours.”

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