Racism in the Novel A Lesson Before Dying

During the first half of the 20th Century, racism infiltrated and segregated the community's social and legal infrastructure. Racial division is portrayed in the novel, reflecting upon Jefferson's life, a life of inequality, inferiority and poverty. His sentencing, or death, further exemplifies the racial superiority of whites over blacks in the South. Thus Jefferson's life is without a doubt a product of racial prejudice practiced in the 20th Century American South.

The harsh, underprivileged and difficult life of blacks in the South is portrayed all throughout the novel. Grant's school, in which Jefferson had studied, was completely inadequate for teaching or learning. Firstly, it was understaffed, as Grant requires the elder students to lecture the younger students, and often leaving Irene Cole in charge of the class in his absence. Secondly, the financial status of the school was without doubt, unequal to the white schools. As Grant informs the unsympathetic superintendent of the lack of required facilities, he attempts to justify his lack of support by introducing equality, but in reality, equality is far from reality. Such a school that Jefferson attended partly explains his lack of both social and academic education that has lead him to the situation he is in.

Jefferson is seen to be an underprivileged individual who has had a deprived childhood, leaving him barely literate as a result of racism. Nothing in Jefferson's upbringing, or in his treatment by the whites for whom he began work at the age of six, has led Jefferson to believe he was good for anything but menial labor. He would have been brainwashed to believe that he was sub-human. that he is inferior to anyone with lighter skin and he grows to accept it, as he accepts in prison that he is a hog, for a while.

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The trial held for Jefferson's 'crime' which leads to his impending execution, was conducted under racially biased circumstances. Jefferson'ss guilt appears questionable, but the way that the trial was conducted and the testimonies of each side assert the evident presence of racism. The defence lawyer represents Jefferson as less then human, an animal, a hog. It is ironic that the defence feels comfortable in degrading his very own client. Further, he continues to shame Jefferson by drawing up a discredited scientific theory of craniology, "look at the shape of his skull, this face is as flat as the palm of my hand...do you see a modicum of intelligence?" This un-humanitarian method of 'defence lowered Jefferson's level of identity and self respect to that of a hog. A just trial would have provided a detailed analysis of the crime scene, such as finger prints, witnesses, forensics etc. And the defence would have used such evidence to defend Jefferson as opposed to sub-humanizing his client. Grants thoughts on the trial unmask the true 'justice' within the trial, "Twelve white men say a black man must die, and another white man sets the date and time without consulting one black person, Justice?"

It is the degrading to the status of a hog and racial prejudice that takes Jefferson to mute shock, to anger and belligerence, to bitter resignation, to a hesitant altruism and finally, strength, strength to die like a man, defiant of being called a hog. Jefferson's execution solidifies the racial divide between the two communities. When the son of a bank clerk questions his mother, she replies with, "the sheriff just had to put an old bad nigger away," implying that the death of a black man was of no significance or importance at all, and within hours the boy had "forgotten all about it." From non- racial point of view, the way Jefferson carried himself to his death elevated an unjust execution to a symbol of hope and inspiration for all the black people. His courage and bravery uplifted the spirits of the black community, as he does his final deed for his people and especially his Nannan, Miss Emma.

Jefferson's life and death is a consequence of the practice of racism or racial prejudice against the blacks of the South in the 20th Century. The cruel, harsh and unequal life he lived, in addition with the in-humanitarian way in which he was treated, exemplifies the racism present. Through his death he is still looked down upon by whites, but it is also his death where he stands up to his demons, and bravely faces up to the execution, not only for himself, but for his people.

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