The Innocence Project

     I think I have finished my thinking capacity when it comes to this blog! I have no more ideas on what to write about to concerning this book. So I went on Mrs.Matsuda's blog page to see if any ideas would spark. Thankfully she posted things that we could have used in case we did have a brain fart. So I looked which one interested me the most. Then I stumbled upon the first link that she had posted there because it seemed interesting called The Innocence Project.

     So I clicked on the link and I checked it out and it definitely caught my attention. This project was founded around 1992 and have exonerated more than 250 people in the United States, including 17 who were at one time sentenced to death. The Innocence Project is a national and public organization dedicated to wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. If we take the situation that Jefferson is in and modernize it, what would have become of him? I believe that if it were today in day, he would have been convicted to death. However, I believe that The Innocence Project lawyers would be able to release him. Jefferson did not touch anyone and because of all the technology that we have he would have been able to be proven innocent if anything.
     Back in the day, many people were wrongfully convicted of crimes that the did not due. However now in day, technology is improving and many people are still being exonerated from their sentencing. Not only are they trying to help these people get out of their wrongful sentencing but they are also trying to have a policy reform. This is something that is very interesting and would have never stumbled upon if i did not see it on her blog.

Grants Reluctant Attitude

     As I was reading on and looking at how far Grant and Jefferson have come along, it hit me. Before all this progress Grant was so unwilling and reluctant to go help Jefferson. He had said some mean things to Tante Lou and Miss Emma in regards to Jefferson and how he had no hope. Why was he being like that instead of just trying to help the poor child out?

     At first Grant tells Tante Lou that there is no hope for Jefferson and that there is no point in wasting his time. He tried to tell them that he is a lost cause. If i was Miss Emma, I wouldn't know how I would have felt hearing that from a supposedly close family friend. They are basically arguing it out right in front of Miss Emma. Eventually Tante Lou has enough and guilt Grant into going to visit Jefferson. Even upon the first visit to see Jefferson, you can see how Grant is acting. If I were Tante Lou, I would have been very upset because I know she didn't raise him to behave like that. Miss Emma must have been heart broken to see that no one had any hope in her child. I guess Grant was reluctant because he didn't want to bear all of that weigh from Tante Lou and Miss Emma. He didn't want to fail them and have that on his shoulders. Not only them, but I don't think he wanted to fail Jefferson either. In the end, he ends up dropping his guard and finally going to see Jefferson because he wants to.
     Initially Grant does not want to help Jefferson because he believes he is a lost cause. Grant, to me at that moment, was being selfish and ignorant. He should have done it for Miss Emma and because they were asking him to do it. It wouldn't do anyone any damage if he did it. Besides in the end, not only did he succeed but he also changed within himself. 

Changes in Jefferson

     Prior to chapter 20, Jefferson is hopeless and dismayed. Upon the first visit with Miss Emma and Grant, Jefferson acts like a zombie. That only his body is there, but mentally he has checked out and is somewhere else. The visits that follow don't seem to have any change either. They follow the similar pattern. However when Grant goes alone to visit Jefferson, he completely changes his attitude.
     In chapter 11, he decides to live up to the words of his own defense attorney. He starts to copy actions that are similar to that of an animal, aka a hog, by eating out of the bag on all for legs and making all these sounds. Jefferson, truly believes the words that his attorney had said and he is determined to stay that way.  As time goes on, and Grant tries everything things start to change once we hit chapter 20. When Grant enters his cell, you can see that there is a distinct change in their relationship and the conversation. Its as if Jefferson is finally making choices that are breaking down the title placed on him by everyone else. Throughout these chapters you can see that Jefferson is now starting to take in what Grant tells him. The roles eventually switch as Grant becomes the one who needs Jefferson's help. You can see that Jefferson now wants to be different. These changes, including the radio, the notebook and even as small as involving the way he eats his food, show everyone else that not all hope is lost and that he is becoming a man.
     The little things show that Jefferson is now starting to move away from the idea that he is a hog. He is no longer convinced by that idea, but that he is in fact a man. There is hope for Jefferson in what we see in these chapters. Grant is actually making progress with him even when he doubted himself.

Grants Neglect Toward Vivian

     As we know, Vivian and Grant have this relationship going throughout the story. Even though Vivian is married she is waiting on her divorce and so they kind of have to be careful where they are seen together, even though everyone knows, because she doesn't want to get the kids taken away. As much as they love each other, you can see through various actions that Grant is neglectful to Vivian throughout their relationship.
     In chapters 3-6, you can start to see that Grant does not to care for other peoples problems and/or concerns.  Grant has these spontaneous moments where he tries to get Vivian and the kids to go off somewhere with him. He fails to realize that there is more to it than just packing up ones bags and leaving. Vivian has a life of her own which she needs to resolve before she can start a new page of her life. She also has a career and two children that have a father that wants to stay in contact with them. She can't just up and go with all of them. Grant fails to realize these things because he is blinded by his ideas and what he wants to do. In chapter 15, after Vivian's surprise visit to the house, you can really feel the tension and the neglect from Grant. He doesn't seem to treat her as an equal. When they were in the kitchen at his Aunts house, he basically told her what to do and to not question him. Not only that, after Tante Lou's questions, when they go out on the porch he is insensitive to Vivian's comments about both of their families. Sometimes I even wonder if he thinks before speaking with Vivian. He says that his family's reaction is "far from being the same thing" as the situation between her and her husbands issues. Didn't he realize that after he said that she became very quiet? Silence usually means that something is wrong due to what you said or did! Come on Grant, I didn't think he was that insensitive. Grant needs to realize the things he says and does affect her just as much as him. He needs to let her in and not shut her out because their problems are "different".
     We don't know much about Vivian besides that she loves Grant. When it comes down to it, how much can Vivian take from Grant before she says something about the way he treats her sometimes? I think she should just tell him straight how things are and how he can't just decide to pack and go when things get though. Grant's self-centered qualities not only inhibit but even prevent him from appreciating the people who surround him.

Ignorant Bliss?

    In chapter 13, Grant is faced with a very difficult decision to make in  regards to Jefferson's current state. The chapters prior to this one, he had gone to the prison to visit Jefferson alone. To recap, Jefferson displayed behaviors from both extremes. He either acted as an empty vessel or he copied those actions from an animal such as a hog. On the way back home, he realizes he has a decision to make; either he tells them the truth...or he lies to them.
    Grant is having this inner conflict during the drive from the visit. He weighs all the outcomes of the situation and what could happen. Grant knows that he would have to lie to protect Miss Emma from Jefferson's harsh and disturbing actions. Instead of going to tell her of his visit, he feels like he is unable to face her at the moment. So instead, he decided to go to the Rainbow Club. Grant is known to be one to run away from his problems. He doesn't like to confront them head on and that is one thing that aggravates me about him. Finally when he heads back home, he is questioned about his visit with Jefferson. Although he doesn't completely lie...well he doesn't exactly seem to tell the whole truth either. He is vague when describing what happened and lies saying that he was fine and that he ate his food. He even added how Jefferson "wanted to know how she was doing". He seemed to stretch his lie just a bit too far.
    Grant didn't want to let Miss Emma really know what Jefferson was up to when he went to go visit him. He decided  that he was going to lie to her and let her live in a little imaginary world. I think he should have told her how he was really acting. Either way she was bound to figure out that he was lying to them. Grant needs to think through his actions carefully before carrying them out.

Issues on Grant

   As the book began, we were introduced to a character named Grant, an educated black male. He resides with his Aunt named Tante Lou and is a school teacher for children in his community. You can see that he is a troubled individual and is conflicted not only within the environment he is in, but also within himself.
   Growing up in the community that he did had made his outlook on the world different from others. When he was in the University he had participated within the church to please his Aunt. After years of studying, up to his last year, he no longer believed in the teachings of the church. As the years continued on, he had begun to slowly separate from the congregation. In doing so, he noticed that his decision had affected his Aunt and how it saddened her. Even after all his education, people still considered Grant inferior. Their treatment upset him but what outraged him even more was that he said and did nothing. When it comes to Jefferson, no one believes that he can complete the task. Even he doesn't believe that it can be done but he does it because of his Aunt. He tried to escape the worries and pressures of his Aunt and the community by visiting his parents in California. Something compelled him to return, he wanted to escape so bad, but his love for his community is more.
    Grant believes that if he changes his geographical location, that maybe things wont be so bad. However some of these problems would disappear, but the ones within him wont. Those problems would haunt him knowing he could have done something to change them, but didn't. As the book carries on, hopefully he will be able to resolve some of these problems.