Background Information of Books

Setting A variety of locations in and around Bayonne, Louisiana, including a storeroom in the Parish Courthouse, the Rainbow Club, Grant’s schoolroom and an area in front of the Courthouse. The time of the play is the fall and winter of 1947 and the spring of 1948.

Synopsis Jefferson, a young African-American man, unfortunately found drunk at the scene of a triple murder has been charged with the murder of a white store owner despite the fact that he was unarmed and obviously had not fired any gun. Jefferson offered no defense, and none was asked of him from the white community. His public defender, in an effort to avoid the death penalty, told the all-white male jury that to execute Jefferson would be like leading a hog to slaughter. While awaiting his execution, Jefferson’s godmother Miss Emma brings herself, Rev. Ambrose and his former teacher Grant Wiggins to him to prepare him to die with dignity, to reverse the terrible slight Jefferson has suffered at the hands of white justice. But Grant has no more self-respect than Jefferson, and it’s only out of his sense of obligation to Tante Lou and Miss Emma, compounded by his fiancee Vivian’s urging, that he meets with his former pupil at all. Meetings between teacher and student continue even though Jefferson won’t even to respond to Miss Emma, until Grant unwittingly reminds him of what’s good in life.

Characters Grant Wiggins – a 30ish black man raised by Tante Lou, not his parents (who left Louisiana for California, leaving Grant in Tante Lou’s care, just as Grant’s mother was left in her care). Grant was sent to college by Tante Lou and Miss Emma Glenn (and others in their community) to become a teacher and bring it back home, but Grant hates the Deep South and its racism, and hates teaching because he sees no future for his students, and neither do they, growing up on the former plantation, far from any city, surrounded by white oppression. However, Grant does love!

Vivian Baptiste – 30ish black woman with children from a marriage she is ending. She and Grant met when she was expecting her second child, about 3 years before the time of this story. She is also a teacher, loves teaching (teaches in town), loves Grant but dislikes his strong urge to flee. Vivian has a strong sense of obligation and responsibility to her community, and is very conscious that her relationship with Grant will be considered taboo by some until her divorce is final, very socially conscious..

Miss Emma Glenn – Older black woman who has worked in some important white homes while raising Jefferson, the man accused of murder (his parents felt they couldn’t raise him, like Grant’s parents). Her best friend is Grant’s Tante Lou. Miss Emma is compelled to work within the racist system, but she manages to work it to her satisfaction. She can’t imagine any other way, but she knows that there must be something better for the younger folks, which is why she helped send Grant to college and is anxious to impart a sense of personal dignity to Jefferson.

Paul Bonin – The sheriff’s deputy whose instinct is to treat Jefferson compassionately, even though, since Jefferson’s under a death sentence, the sheriff’s policy is not to become involved. Paul abides by the rules and regs but recognizes the fact that prisoners 39