Welcome to your online discussion of A Lesson Before Dying!
Together with members of your book group, you’ll be reading A Lesson Before Dying over the next several weeks. Although you're not required to take notes while you read, it would be wise to keep track of important events and characters for your own clarification. You are, however, expected to participate regularly and thoughtfully in an online discussion of FOUR essential questions.
Here's how it works:
Divide your book into three roughly equal sections. You need to have read and blogged about these sections by the due dates below.
There are two kinds of posts in this discussion: responses and comments.
Responses = direct responses to the essential questions
- Post at least TWO responses for each section of your book (SIX overall).
- You must comment on all of the essential questions over the course of your reading.
- One of your six responses can be a “free-response" post.
Comments = comment on someone else’s posted response or comment
- Post at least THREE comments for each section of your book (NINE overall).
Due dates:
- Post your first set of responses and comments by Thursday, April 14.
- Post your second set of responses and comments by Monday, April 25.
- Post your third set of responses and comments by Tuesday, May 3.
Essential Questions:
- How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American culture? Be specific! (Page references are helpful.)
- How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American history?
- In what ways does this book refute the notion of the “single story”?
- How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) reflect or illuminate the current state of race relations in our country? Have we made any progress as a society?
** Free-response option: Address another issue/episode/or passage in the book that you find
significant for any reason.
Assessment: To earn maximum credit, post thoughtful responses that are at least a short paragraph in length—and carefully proofread! Do not misspell characters' or authors’ names! Also, be sure to include specific references to the text (either details or short quotations). Page numbers, too, are always helpful.
my names connor
ReplyDeletenice to meet u...ive seen u around
Deletehi my names will how r u guys
ReplyDeletepretty good babe, how about you?
DeleteHey babe, love you Willie K.
DeleteHey babe , whats up Willie K
DeletePumped to be with you love
DeleteHey boys, my name is Hayden L.
ReplyDeleteHey babe
DeleteHow's it going babe
Deletenice to meet u hayden L
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ReplyDeleteHey boys lets read some books the names Dakota Lopez
ReplyDeleteHows it going boys, I'm Nathan T. Hyped to work with you guys
ReplyDeletenice to meet u nathan t. i dont know what hyped means
DeleteHyped means he's pumped
Delete2. This book show's African-American history during the trial. The jury took a couple of hours to make their decision and was an all white jury. This meant that he didn't get a fair trial when he was sentenced to die.
ReplyDeleteI agree Hayden. During the trial it was very unfair. It was a very short period time. I felt like it was biased because of his race. If he would have been white I wonder what the outcome would have been?
DeleteGood question. I bet that they would have heard his story and even if he had actually killed someone the Jury would have said it was out of self-defense.
DeleteThis continues also, in the jail. Jeffersons has to sit in the jail for a long time, allowing him to really turn on himself and convince himself he is not a man
Deletei agree with Hayden, for all whites it is said they are to be given a speedy trial, i feel that the blacks should be treated like that too, they deserve a speedy and fair trial, they should've heard his story and considered it into his sentence instead of blowing it offf
Delete4. This book illuminates the fact that African-Americans had to go to separate schools than whites and the schools were worse. Also, this book shows how school used to be. Teaches used to hit kids and kids and teachers couldn't have a good relationship. Back to the segregation. The whites and blacks had there own sections of town. The blacks had their church, restaurants, and school in the north part of town while whites had theirs in the south.
ReplyDeleteI agree Hayden. I liked how you noticed that this segregation is terrible and that this book is revolved around that. I think were on the same page. I agree with everything you said about what has happened in the book. I majorly agree that this book will continue to revolve around segregation.
DeleteThe book will probably keep talking about segregation. The prison will probably be segregated too. Also, what does it mean to die like a man? I know the judge called Jefferson a hog, but he can just ignore that. He and his godmother shouldn't worry about what others think, and Jefferson shouldn't need Grant to tell him he's a man.
DeleteThe book did show more segregation with it sounded like dirtier cells and the bathrooms for blacks being in the basement not cleaned up. But the whites bathroom right on the main floor...
DeleteSo far in the first 6 chapters, the book is showing how african american culture is and what they have to deal with. It shows the amount of work it is to be of that race. There is a lot of segregation going on between churches and schools as Hayden stated above. Going back a few chapters... the trial was one sided and I thought it seemed to be rigged for the jury and against the defender. Jefferson immediately was sentenced to death at the end of the 1st chapter. This book I can laready tell is going to teach me a lot about how it was just 50 years ago. I will learn a lot from this book. On page 8 towards the bottom of the page I really liked how (correct me if I'm wrong) Jefferson was so apprieciative of the jury and how he apprieciated their patience. As an african american man he already had the lower side that day in age. I am excited and anxious to keep reading
ReplyDeleteI also like how the secondary characters play a role early on in the book and we get to know everyone very well. I like how the author did that to help us understand the concept of the book rather than wondering who all the characters are and what role they play.
DeleteI agree with you about the trial, they didn't let Jefferson talk and say his side of the story. The jury just made there decision using one story. You need to look at the whole case and see things from different perspectives, as said in the "Danger of a single story" Ted Talk. The jury did what that video warned against doing
DeleteI think it is interesting how much of a role secondary characters play in the book. Even the security guards at the jail are making an affect on the book with segregation. They always search the black people more, and do it just to get into their heads and put them down.
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ReplyDelete3: In the case against Jefferson, the jury didn't have an open mind. I assume that the fact that he was a different race affected the outcome of the decision. We need to have an open mind as well. There is still segregation in our world, but not as bad. In 1964, the civil right act was made. Slavery and discrimination was stopped for the most part. But, going back to the single story. The whites only had one story in the trial and immediately sentenced Jefferson to death. The trial was unfair and this shows the danger of a single story.
ReplyDeleteEven today, people only have single stories. For example, lots of people only have single stories about Muslims and make assumptions about what kind of people they are.
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DeleteExactly, we don't hear the stories of Muslims doing good and that they are just like other people. Also, lots of people don't know what Islam is based off of and how it's supposed to be. People just make assumptions off of a few people
DeleteYes. We make too many assumptions.
DeleteI think that the jury part of the book is more important than it might seem. It is a small part, but it sets the book up for a mood that allows us to see deeper into the book and really grasp the intent of the author.
DeleteAlso, moving back to single stories I think that there will be a lot of single story parts in the book. For example, we only hear the good things about Ms. Emma and how loving she is, but if Jefferson hates her so much then she must have done some bad stuff
Deletei agree, assumptions is that still keeps racism going today, or "fuels the fire" as they say, if it werent for people assuming things about blacks then we wouldnt have this big issue racism, people look at the bad in a person, and the bad things they have done, they never look at the good in them and the good they have done for us, or for everyone
DeleteThrough the first 4 chapters of this book, it has already showed how mean people can be. It's a little confusing at first, about why Grant comes home...Do you guys think Grant will help out?
ReplyDeletethis is will
DeleteI agree. The first few chapters are some of the deeper and more intense chapter. They set the book up and show us a part of our world that we don't know as much about. As far as if Grant will help out, I think he is going to play a huge part in the book and Jeffersons outcome.
DeleteI think it is interesting how In the beginning of the sessions with Jefferson everything is so rough, he seems to hate everyone, even himself. The only time he actually responds is when he is alone with Mr. Wiggins. He seems to have more of a connection with him than anyone else. When Mr. Wiggins really gets through it all happens really quickly, in the space of around 10 minutes. Will this continue?
ReplyDeleteI was very surprised that he talked to Grant more often then even his GodMom. I think the man to man perspective helped. I think jefferson maybe felt embarrassed in front of Miss Emma.
Deletei agree with Will, a man to man perspective with things gave him a better view and taught him, i also feel that jefferson felt singled out and embarrassed talking to miss emma but he felt a little better talking to one of his own, a man.
DeleteMs. Emma is another interesting character who plays a significant role. Even though she is not always the focus of attention she does things behind the scenes that help Mr. Wiggins connect with Jefferson. She is so upset that Jefferson wont connect with her, she makes him all this food and takes care of him but all he does is shut her out. Mr. Wiggins uses this as a topic to talk about, allowing him to stretch conversation and connect with Jefferson
ReplyDeleteI feel like if Mr. Wiggins and Miss Emma had been able to meet with Jefferson earlier than they did then they would have been easier to connect and talk to Jefferson. This would have happened because Jefferson is just getting more and more down on himself the longer he is in jail by himself. Also, it seems like Mr. Wiggins and Jefferson didn't really know each other. So, it would have been harder for them to talk.
DeleteI agree Hayden, had they started visiting Jefferson say a month before the book could have taken a much different path. If Jefferson became confident in himself a month before he did then we might have seen more problems with Vivian because Mr. Wiggins would have had more time.
DeleteOne of the other interesting things I caught on to was the difference in what is normal. At the school they are constantly short of supplies, but to them it is normal. At the jail the black visitors are searched 10 times more than any white visitor and they treat it like it is normal. This goes to show how black communities were mistreated so much that what we would think of as bad today was normal to them .
ReplyDeleteYes, this would be normal to them. But, they all wanted these things to not be normal and to be treated the same as the whites.
DeleteYes, they all wanted to be treated the same and didn't want a difference between the 2 races. I agree with them and that there should not be a difference depending on the skin color. People always say it doesn't matter what's on the outside... it's the inside that matters. That's the principle that should be put into situations involving racism.
DeleteYes but their standards still have changed a lot. Back then they could only want those things. Now they have them
DeleteThe segregation shows again at this point, the superintendent doesn't even care, he acts like the whites don't have the materials either.
Deleteyes i agree, the blacks should be supplied with the same as the whites, when they are in need of supplies, they should be given supplies rather then be treated with old used up supplies which actually makes it harder to learn
DeleteWho were Jefferson's parents? Knowing who they were and what they did would help us to better understand his situation.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree, we didn't get any information about them and maybe that would help us understand Jefferson's background.
DeleteI think that his parents are not a part of the book, that he was taken in by Ms. Emma as a favor to his parents. What happened to them I have no idea but I can guess that they disappeared when Jefferson was still very young.
DeleteI agree like I said in my first response it didn't give us much detail about these characters, its all indirect information most of the time.
Deleteyes, i feel that if they wouldve taught us more about jeffersons past and his parents it wouldve helped us to grasp onto his view on things and help us to better understand his perspective.
DeleteI like how the story really shows how the society back then can still connect to now. That article we read today is another example of racism going on in the world now. Jefferson was put in jail, but people living in the towns where there are water issues may be getting diseases and dying eventually. The government has control in both situations and racism situation usually have some connection to the government whether it be big or small.
ReplyDeleteThe government can't stop racism. They can help to prevent it, but ultimately it's up to the people.
DeleteI agree with Hayden, but I also believe that it can be looked at a different way. We wouldn't have to worry about preventing racism if it was not a thing in the beginning. In that situation The Government can do a lot to not influence racism. The people can also do a lot but in the end we will follow our government, like a crew would follow it's captain. If the captain says to list to port, the crew now wants to list to port.
DeleteYes Hayden! I agree, the government can control the laws but there will always be the people who have to decide if they want to continue the racism or stop it. It's all up to the people when we think about it.
DeleteI really like what you said here...The government can never stop racism it happens everywhere including school, people/kids may not know they are being raciest but they can be.
DeleteOne of the things that I thought for sure would happen that didn't happen was Mr. Wiggins being at Jeffersons murder. I think that the author did it to add another layer to the book, so that we only hear about the execution like Mr. Wiggins did, from another person. It adds that extra bit of confusion, wondering about how much of the story was true
ReplyDeleteI agree. That part felt weird. I was confused when Mr. Wiggins wasn't there.
Deletei also agree with that, i too beleive that it was to add another layer to the book and add a little mystery and add questions to the book
DeleteThe principle 'what is on the inside matters more than what is on the outside' has a massive presence in our book, especially with Jefferson. He is what he believes he is, and so when he was called a Hog and chose to believe that he became a Hog. He had to convince himself again that he was a man.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting how Vivian was what kept Mr. Wiggins going to see Jefferson and basically what drove him to do anything by the end of the book and yet she never shows a huge presence. The only time we see Vivian is in the scenes that many consider to be "side scenes", not as important, just there to fill up space. These scenes are the most important, they set the tone and mood for the "bigger" scenes ahead, allowing them to be interpreted a certain way. Vivian acts as one of those side scenes for Mr. Wiggins
ReplyDeleteThat is true... I agree that Vivian was the one who kept Mr. Wiggins going. If she wasn't involved, Mr. Wiggins may have given up, and the book would have ended a lot quicker
DeleteShe played a huge role in Grant going to see Jefferson. She encouraged him to talk to him and give him advice when ever they saw each other.
Deletei agree, if it weren't for Vivian, grant wouldn't have gone to see Jefferson and would've never even considered giving him advice or even talking to him
DeleteI agree i think Vivian was one of the most important characters even if she wasn't in a ton of the book.
DeleteOne thing I noticed in the book is that the Revered was the one who influenced him as well. The Reverend and Vivian were the ones who kept Jefferson going. The Revered told Jefferson to lie. He may have given up if he didn't have that very very small influence. Also his girlfriend Vivian was not always present but was a major influence!
ReplyDeleteIn this book you see the change in Jefferson but also in Mr. Wiggins. He doesn't want to go visit Jefferson and is forced to go. But, he feels really good when he finally connects with Jefferson. He also has more respect for Miss Emma as the book goes on.
ReplyDeleteMr. Wiggins teaches many things to Jefferson. All of these things that he teaches Jefferson are what he wants to be as a person. When he tells Jefferson to do things for other and to have faith. He has to learn what he wants to be like as a person, and how he feels Jefferson can become as a person in his last few weeks living.
ReplyDeleteVery true, I feel like Jefferson was int he twilight zone for the first while...He doesn't want to even remember what being a person is and what is about.
DeleteDuring the first part of the Book I was confused about what kind of person Grant really is, then later I got to know him. He is a heart felt guy who wants to help but doesn't want to get into trouble. I was surprised when he hit kids with rulers. But I see that back then that was normal.
ReplyDeleteI feel that he didn't really want to help and just helped becuase he was made to, but in the end he was glad that he did help
DeleteLike Nathan said before this book connects to now, racism is sure not as bad as it was back then with different bathrooms and schools...But saying that people still say things and act different towards people who are different.
ReplyDeleteJefferson the main character was in the wrong place at the wrong time and watched and robbery turn into a murder at a liquor store. Then he was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by using electricity kind of like the green mile. He says he was on his way to a bar, but changed his mind and decided to tag along with two guys who were on their way to a liquor store. the two guys started arguing with the storeowner, and a shootout started. The storeowner and the two guys died, and Jefferson stayed at the store where they were all shot. his attorney argues that Jefferson lacks the intelligence to plan a robbery, and that, even if he had been involved in the killing, sentencing him to death would be like putting a hog in the electric chair. Over several months while Jefferson waits for the execution he and Grant forge a bond.
ReplyDeleteEssential questions:
1. How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American culture? because if it was a white person they would’ve given him a fair trial and gone more detail into finding the truth and what really happened
One little detail I just read killed me...It showed the segregation again, when Grant goes to the store to buy Jefferson a Radio for his last couple weeks. Right when he walks in the lady is already not interested in him and doesn't care. He wanted a new one to show Jefferson he really cares. She argues and basically saying he doesn't need a brand new one. When she finally gives in and goes and finds a brand new one she gets ready to check it out...then a white women walks in and the worker pushes the radio a side to ask what the women wants and all the women wants is to talk...Grant had to wait 10 minutes for them to stop talking...This little detail shows how bad the segregation was back then.
ReplyDeleteTrue, he also had to wait for a while while she got the new radio. Also, there wasn't anyone sense in the store when Mr. Wiggins first went into the store and she still didn't help him.
Deleteyes i agree with this because i think that the whites like to feel like they are higher up and in more power than the blacks because they dont feel that they are worth more than whites.
ReplyDelete1. in the beginning of the book i feel that they only arrested him because he was black and was at a murder scene and was the only one alive, if he wouldve been white they wouldve heard what he had to say, I feel that this story only adds to the racism in our country, they try to make it as if he was the murderer without even hearing the story, they made assumptions and false accusations
ReplyDelete2. When miss emma said she wanted him to die as a man, not as a hog, it struck me by surprise becuase i had to read over it twice to really understand what she was saying, she wanted grant to help her talk to jefferson and get him off of death role and give him a fair trial unlike what they had given him, it was a 1 day trial when they shouldve gone more into depth
ReplyDelete3. In the middle of the book i feel that this book demonstrates a single story very well, i feel that every time a black person is in or around a murder or shooting or robbery or anything along the lines of that its always the same outcome, the black person gets brought to jail every time, they never get a fair trial, and never get the right to speak their side of the story
ReplyDelete5. towards the end of the book i started to realize that it wasn't so much or Vivian or miss emma influencing grant, it was the reverend that was influencing him and convincing him to go everyday to talk to Jefferson and to continue to communicate with him man to man.
ReplyDeleteI agree i think the reverend had a very big influence on grant threw out the book.
Delete6. like Will had said above me, there was another point where it showed segregation when he went to buy the radio, and the lady wasnt interested and it took for ever for her to help him, if he were white she wouldve been right there asking him if there was anyway that she could help and if he was looking for anything in specific, but no, he was black so she treated him poorly and served the whites before him and took him last.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't get a fair trial because the jury was all white so it was not a jurry of his pears but a jury of the opposition.
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ReplyDeleteAs it has already been Said. They showed racism when he went to go buy the radio and the lady gave him trouble. She didn't get him a new one and then the white person came in after him and the cashier help them anyway.
ReplyDeleteI think He was also Thought to be more guilty when he was arrested just because he was black. If a white man was in that situation i think they would have been much easier going.
ReplyDeleteIt was strange how the white men didn't like the idea of the black man being smart. How they didn't want him to be equal in anyway.
ReplyDeleteI was interested to hear when his death date was set everyone came even strangers because he didn't seem like the man to normally get lots of care or attention form people around town.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the reasons he hates going their so much is because he is afraid of failure. He doesn't want to fail and have a man get slaughtered as a hog. He hates going there for that reason.
ReplyDelete