Discrimination in Dear Martin and A Lesson Before Dying Essay Sample

In both books they showed how the justice system is flawed and even though Americans have “equal rights,” people of color are discriminated against. In the book A Lesson Before Dying, African American children were treated as if they were an after thought and their education did not matter. Jefferson, who was falsley convicted and sentenced to death, did not have a fair trial. In the book Dear Martin, black people had to work harder in order to acheive the same feat as white people. Justyce, who was arrested and his best friend Manny, was killed by an off duty police officer. Both A Lesson Before Dying and Dear Martin deal with discrimination, but they do so in different ways.

In the book A Lesson Before Dying, the black people were treated like animals and discriminated against. A school superintendent walked in and treated the kids like farm animals, checking their teeth and their hygiene. Gaines writes, “Open wide, say “Ahhh”-and he would have the poor children spreading out their lips as far as they could while he peered into their mouths. At the University I had read of slave masters who had done the same when buying new slaves” (Gaines 56). The kids were not treated as if they were people. They were treated as property even though they were free and just in school. They were trying to get an education but all the inspector cared about was how they looked. Jefferson did not have a fair trial, he had a Jury of all white people and was falsely accused because of a stereotype. Gaines writes, “The judge told Jefferson that he had been found guilty of all charges brought against him, and that the judge saw no reason that he should not pay for the part he played in this horrible crime” (Gaines 9). In court defendents should have the opportunity to have a fair and unbiased jury; however, Jefferson did not have that chance. It was unfair and ultimately his life was in the hands of 12 jurors that were not in his best interest. On the other hand, Manny, from the book Dear Martin was not even given the chance to see a trial before he was killed.

In the book Dear Martin, African Americans were given the same opportunity as the white people; however, they had to work much harder to get there because of the discrimination they faced. Stone writes, “America’s a pretty colorblind place now… Fourteenth Amendment, every person in this country had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Stone 24, 26). The people that Justyce was around believed that everyone was equal when it comes to race. They do not know what people of color have to deal with in terms of discrimination and prejudice. SJ Taylors mom was able to get Justyce out of jail for a police officer arresting him for a misunderstanding. Stone writes, “My friends SJ’s mom, Mrs. Friedman – an attorney- and she had to come bark a bunch of legal hoo-ha in the cops face before they let me go” (Stone 11). Justyce had the benefit of having white friends with parents in good place in order to help him. Who knows how long it would have taken him to get out of holding if he did not have a connection with SJ and her mom. Manny was killed without second thought, he did not get a trial, it was in the moment and out of pure anger. Stone writes, “He’s gone. He never did anything to anyone, and now Manny’s gone” (Stone 124). In the book A Lesson Before Dying Jefferson was at least giving a trial. Though it was unfair and he was not guilty he had time to say goodbye to loved ones. They were both killed because of their skin color. Manny was killed in cold blood without knowing and without getting to say goodbye. Readers see similar situations of discrimination in Dear Martin and A Lesson Before Dying. 

The books A Lesson Before Dying and Dear Martin were pretty different but, they had the same idea, the justice system can be flawed and discriminate against people of color. Both Jefferson and Manny made one mistake, they both ended up being killed because of it. Gaines writes, “Still he did not run. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t believe that this just happened,” (Gaines 6). Jefferson stayed at a crime scene for too long and Manny provoked am angry white man that was yelling at him for his music. They were at the wrong place at the wrong time and were men of color and both lost their lives because of it. They both used the legal and police system, they both showed how it can be flawed. Gaines writes, “A white man had been killed during a robbery, and though two of the robbers had been killed on the spot, one had been captured, and he, too, would have to die” (Gaines 4). Manny was killed by a racist cop and they cop got off without a murder charge. Jefferson was falsely accused because of his skin color and an unfair Jury. Justyce was arrested because he was helping his drunk girlfriend but the cop assumed he was carjacking. Stone writes, “Why try to do right if people will always look at me and assume wrong?” (Stone 144). The mindset of this young African American boy was that if people are going to assume he is going to do the wrong thing why should he try to do the right thing? Why should he even try to change that? He is a good kid but he is a minority and everyone has their own stereotypes that are hard to change. 

Both A Lesson Before Dying and Dear Martin deal with discrimination, but they do so in different ways. In the book A Lesson Before Dying, Jefferson was not granted a fair trial, and because of that was sentenced to death by 12 white jurors and a white judge. In the book Dear Martin, Justyces’ peers believed that America was a “color blind” place to live but throughout the novel it showed what challenges he faced. In both A Lesson Before Dying and Dear Martin, good men were killed because of their skin color, both were just caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Not only are Afican Americans discriminated against in these books, it happens everyday across the world.