In A Lesson Before Dying, Ernest J Gaines, the author, tells his story in the 1940s in a Cajun community. Jefferson, a young African-American, is an innocent witness to a liquor store shooting in which three men are murdered, but he is the one and only survivor and is therefore sentenced to prison and death. As a young boy, Gaines grew up on a plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, which represents Bayonne in his fictional writings. Having experienced the lifestyle of slavery, Gaines depicts the trials and difficulties of African American life. Although the main theme of A Lesson Before Dying rests on the continuing power of racism in the South, an examination of the subtle details and interpretations throughout the novel examines the complications faced by African Americans. Racism becomes more acceptable when white individuals dehumanize African Americans. When Jefferson is sentenced in court for the alleged murder of a three-man gang, Gaines uses a combination of similes to develop the association between spotless black humans and animals. Although Jefferson's lawyer creates many logical ideas to explain that Jefferson did not murder Alcee Grope, he also points out that Jefferson is a boy and a fool and therefore does not have the ability to plan the murder . Jefferson's lawyer does not support him by evidence, but by saying: "He has reached the age of twenty-one years, while we, civilized men, consider the male species to have reached manhood, but would call Are you a man? No, no. I'd say he's a boy and a fool. A fool is not aware of good and evil” (Gaines, 7). By stating that Jefferson is a boy, Gaines indicates how racism spreads through everyday interactions. The defense states that it is in the middle of a paper...... and that they are a "good rump"; rather than seeing them as people, he sees them as things. Through such bold words, the power of racism is expressed. Even though the details may not be relevant in some stories, Gaines uses subtle points to demonstrate the importance of racism in the world past and present. The lingering power of racism that existed in the past still exists today. Gaines attempts to convey a message throughout the novel through Jefferson's death. Jefferson's execution will remain an unforgettable event that will have a great influence on many individuals in this society. Dying with dignity, Jefferson demonstrated to whites that he was a distinguished human being. The lives of African Americans should be considered the same as those of white people. Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 2004. Print.