This is the story of two young black men who are very different but both face the same issues of racial oppression in the era preceeding The Great Depression. Grant Wiggins is a young teacher who is in love with a married woman. He believes that the only way to escape racism is to leave the town of Lousiana where he grew up but has very bitter memories of. Grant is very insightful and intelligent and this is why he is asked by his aunt Tante Lou and her friend Miss Emma to spend time with Miss Emma's godson Jefferson.
Jefferson is also a young black man who has struggled with predujice, but unlike Grant this struggle will ulitmatly cost him his life. Jefferson was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was sentenced to death for the murder of a liquor store owner and two other men. At Jefferson's trial his lawyer defends him by saying that he was no smarter than a hog and a hog couldn't plot a crime. Jefferson is sentenced to death but he takes the hog comment to heart. His godmother Miss Emma does too and this is why she summons Grant to speak with her godson before his death so he can "die a man." Grant who is a very selfish character is nervous to speak with Jefferson because he doesn't want to get close to someone who is going to die. Grant's aunt forces him to visit Jefferson and by the third visit Grant is making progress with him. Grant has evolved as a character and grown very clost to Jefferson over the months awaiting his execution. When the day of the execution arrives Grant makes his class at school kneel until he receieves word from the courthouse that the execution is complete. Finally the final word is in that Jefferson is dead. | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's Political/social activism Yes Plotlet: Ethnic/Regional/Religion Crime & Police story Yes Story of Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - society Age: - long-lived adults How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - below average Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 6 () United States Yes The US: - Deep South Farm/Ranch? Yes Farm/Ranch: - lot of descript of crop raising Writing Style Sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references only - descript of kissing |