A Lesson Before Dying Racism Analysis

A weapon is a hazardoustoolthat is used in an act of self-defense; its powers can be misused and put people in jeopardy. Racism is like a weapon’s dark and dangerous sidebecause it is used to hurt others and put them in harm’s way. This obstacle occurs throughout history in various court cases, stories, and everyday life. InA Lesson before Dying, Ernest Gaines shows that racism is an oppressive force that not only hurts people mentally, but it also hurts people physically. He shows how racism is like a weapon through numerous characters and situations. Ernest Gaines shows racism through the actions of some characters. A Lesson before Dying begins with a court trial where an African-American man named Jefferson is being accused of murder at a bar and lounge; Jefferson goes to the bar and lounge with two other men who get in a shootout with the owner, and Jefferson is the only one left standing. Jefferson is put on trial for the murder even though he did …show more content…
One symbol of racism in A Lesson before Dying is the “…Confederate flags [that] flew on long metal poles,” (69). The Confederate flag represents a time of slavery, so it is disrespectful to African-Americans as it represents slavery wanting to treat them as they are property instead of humans. “When we came to a rest room marked white men…” (188) is an example that shows racism as an oppressive force. This shows segregation which hurts other races mentally because they felt as though it was not equally fair and made them feel lower in rank. Grant Wiggins also displays how racism affects African-Americans when he says, “‘…their forefathers only three-fifth humans…’” (190). This reminds them of their ancestors past and the struggles they went to just to live their everyday lives as a piece of property. Symbols are also placed throughout A Lesson before Dying that affects their