Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Willie Jones Cyber-Assignment
On Monday, October 4, 2010, the afternoon class watched a video: Willie P. Francis Must Die and asked to respond to a series of questions:
1. In what ways does this story challenge the notion E. P. Jones proposes in his novel The Known World that one often can't do any better or accept anything better, such as unjust treatment, based on one's circumstances? Recall the film: Mirrors of Privilege, Making Whiteness Visible.
2. How is Willie Francis doomed by his "known world" even before he is born?
3. How is Willie Francis's sentence based on a similar "known world" or acceptable world view, one that has not changed for many Americans to this day?
4. How does this story challenge or call into question the notion of legality vs. morality?
5. What choices does Willie Francis have in the end? Do you think he gives up too soon? Why or why not?
6. Why is a dead black man seen as a saint? Look at Martin King, Malcolm X, even Oscar Grant?
Description:
Danny Glover narrates the unique story of Willie Francis, who survived execution in the Louisiana electric chair in 1946. After the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow a second execution, Felix Frankfurther--the Justice who cast the deciding fifth vote--then went to work behind the scenes to try to get the sentence commuted to life in prison.
Biography:
Allan L. Durand is a graduate of University of Southwestern Louisiana and has a law degree from Louisiana State University, as well as a Master of Laws in Taxation from Southern Methodist University. He served on active duty as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and also as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard. After graduating from SMU, he was employed as a Tax Senior with a major international accounting firm, and also practiced law in New Orleans and Dallas before returning to St. Martinville, a French Catholic town in southern Cajun Louisiana where he was raised. He is licensed to practice law in both Louisiana and Texas, and was one of the co-founders of the Tax section of the Lafayette Parish Bar Association, as well as one of the co-founders of the Lafayette law firm of Perrin, Landry, deLaunay and Durand. He presently practices law in Lafayette and has served as General Counsel to Farmers-Merchants Bank since 1996. In addition to his law practice, he has been either the producer or associate producer of four feature length motion pictures (including Belizaire the Cajun), and various documentaries for public television. The attorney who represented Francis in his bid to stop the second execution attempt was the younger brother of Durand's grandmother.
Contact information:
Allan Durand
235 La Rue France
Lafayette, LA 70508
E-mail: durand@plddo.com
Taken from: http://www.unaff.org/2007/f_willie.html
1. In what ways does this story challenge the notion E. P. Jones proposes in his novel The Known World that one often can't do any better or accept anything better, such as unjust treatment, based on one's circumstances? Recall the film: Mirrors of Privilege, Making Whiteness Visible.
2. How is Willie Francis doomed by his "known world" even before he is born?
3. How is Willie Francis's sentence based on a similar "known world" or acceptable world view, one that has not changed for many Americans to this day?
4. How does this story challenge or call into question the notion of legality vs. morality?
5. What choices does Willie Francis have in the end? Do you think he gives up too soon? Why or why not?
6. Why is a dead black man seen as a saint? Look at Martin King, Malcolm X, even Oscar Grant?
Description:
Danny Glover narrates the unique story of Willie Francis, who survived execution in the Louisiana electric chair in 1946. After the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow a second execution, Felix Frankfurther--the Justice who cast the deciding fifth vote--then went to work behind the scenes to try to get the sentence commuted to life in prison.
Biography:
Allan L. Durand is a graduate of University of Southwestern Louisiana and has a law degree from Louisiana State University, as well as a Master of Laws in Taxation from Southern Methodist University. He served on active duty as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and also as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard. After graduating from SMU, he was employed as a Tax Senior with a major international accounting firm, and also practiced law in New Orleans and Dallas before returning to St. Martinville, a French Catholic town in southern Cajun Louisiana where he was raised. He is licensed to practice law in both Louisiana and Texas, and was one of the co-founders of the Tax section of the Lafayette Parish Bar Association, as well as one of the co-founders of the Lafayette law firm of Perrin, Landry, deLaunay and Durand. He presently practices law in Lafayette and has served as General Counsel to Farmers-Merchants Bank since 1996. In addition to his law practice, he has been either the producer or associate producer of four feature length motion pictures (including Belizaire the Cajun), and various documentaries for public television. The attorney who represented Francis in his bid to stop the second execution attempt was the younger brother of Durand's grandmother.
Contact information:
Allan Durand
235 La Rue France
Lafayette, LA 70508
E-mail: durand@plddo.com
Taken from: http://www.unaff.org/2007/f_willie.html
Comments:
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Dalina Le
Professor Sabir
English 201A 1-3
06 October 2010
Privilege is free to all but most people are still concious of being privileged for anything because every day is a crucial day and it's hard to earn anything. I think that because of a person's certain race, even color, it's more determined for others to make a quick judgment and makes it difficult for them to find their place in life when others are alreadt labeling them as something they're not. For example whites believe they are the superior ones and that they feel as if their command is top priority for under class people. Willie Francis is doomed before he is born because his place is determing by where his family, such as parents, stand with the location they live on or the amount of money they have and provide or even their race. So it makes it difficult for Willie to join the world even before he's entered it. Willie's sentence is based on assumptions and it is not justice for the government or policemen to do so to an innocent person, just because one confesses of murdering another person, they would also need evidence to actually show that s/he was the murderer. many things have not changed because people are still racist, and would assume whatever they would want without having evidence of this person being this or that. The notion of legality leans on the side of the government as for citizens, mortality leans on both side because we citizens do not have much power to say anything and protect ourselves. Willie had a couple of choices yet Willie chose to die because he did not want to see himself disappoint his mother because she has been through so much and even though he was innocent he felt that since he put himself and his family through such a rough couple years, he probably thought it was better for him to leave the world behind with a amazing story to remember him by.
Professor Sabir
English 201A 1-3
06 October 2010
Privilege is free to all but most people are still concious of being privileged for anything because every day is a crucial day and it's hard to earn anything. I think that because of a person's certain race, even color, it's more determined for others to make a quick judgment and makes it difficult for them to find their place in life when others are alreadt labeling them as something they're not. For example whites believe they are the superior ones and that they feel as if their command is top priority for under class people. Willie Francis is doomed before he is born because his place is determing by where his family, such as parents, stand with the location they live on or the amount of money they have and provide or even their race. So it makes it difficult for Willie to join the world even before he's entered it. Willie's sentence is based on assumptions and it is not justice for the government or policemen to do so to an innocent person, just because one confesses of murdering another person, they would also need evidence to actually show that s/he was the murderer. many things have not changed because people are still racist, and would assume whatever they would want without having evidence of this person being this or that. The notion of legality leans on the side of the government as for citizens, mortality leans on both side because we citizens do not have much power to say anything and protect ourselves. Willie had a couple of choices yet Willie chose to die because he did not want to see himself disappoint his mother because she has been through so much and even though he was innocent he felt that since he put himself and his family through such a rough couple years, he probably thought it was better for him to leave the world behind with a amazing story to remember him by.
# posted by 
: 1:37 PM
: 1:37 PM
WINNIE LI
PROFESSOR SABIR
ENGLISH 201A 1PM - 3 PM
6 OCTOBER 2010
1. The novel The Known World exposes to us that there is no fair justice and people are treated unfairly because of the time period. This novel reminds me of the film: Mirrors of Privilege, Making Whiteness Visible because it shows us that we believe that every one not colored has privilege and that is not true.
2. Willie Francis doomed by his "known world" even before he is born because of his family generation. His mother was bed-ridden so she couldn't get out of bed and his father was elderly.
3. Willie Francis's sentence is similar to how many Americans view life today because they still want to sentence non guilty people because of racism and unjustice.
4. This story challenges legality and morality because they both relate to the law and rights. Legality is conforming to what is justice and right in court. Morality is being subject to death. They are both used in law.
5. Willie Francis's had no choices in the end because he was first accused being involved with drugs and then he was accused of murdering Andrew Thomas. I think he fought already when he didn't die during the first execution at age 16.
6. All these dead black men are seen as a saint because they all are a legend who has fought for justice and had a uncivilized death. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Oscar Grant were all shot because of religious rights or of color.
PROFESSOR SABIR
ENGLISH 201A 1PM - 3 PM
6 OCTOBER 2010
1. The novel The Known World exposes to us that there is no fair justice and people are treated unfairly because of the time period. This novel reminds me of the film: Mirrors of Privilege, Making Whiteness Visible because it shows us that we believe that every one not colored has privilege and that is not true.
2. Willie Francis doomed by his "known world" even before he is born because of his family generation. His mother was bed-ridden so she couldn't get out of bed and his father was elderly.
3. Willie Francis's sentence is similar to how many Americans view life today because they still want to sentence non guilty people because of racism and unjustice.
4. This story challenges legality and morality because they both relate to the law and rights. Legality is conforming to what is justice and right in court. Morality is being subject to death. They are both used in law.
5. Willie Francis's had no choices in the end because he was first accused being involved with drugs and then he was accused of murdering Andrew Thomas. I think he fought already when he didn't die during the first execution at age 16.
6. All these dead black men are seen as a saint because they all are a legend who has fought for justice and had a uncivilized death. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Oscar Grant were all shot because of religious rights or of color.
# posted by : 1:51 PM
: 1:51 PM
Jimmy Tran
Professor Sabir
English 201A
5 October 2010
1)Willie's story challenges E.P Jones "The Known World" by showing the concept of racism. Willie was innocent and they knew that.The characters of E.P Jones are also African American and they are also treated unequal. One character to look at is Moses.
2) Willie never really got a chance to love life or his childhood. He was doomedbecause he was innocent but was framed guilty because he was black. Before he was born, it is like he was set up to be guilty.
3)Our Justice system serves no justice for Americans and many realize that. The slaves in The Known World were going no chance and Willie did not get a chance either.
4)It is legal for a person to be executed for a serious crime. There was no moral for Willie becuase he was still young and he did not commit the crime.
5)He has no choice in the end but to die. He never gave up because in the documentary it showed him that he still had character. He never gave up because he was never given no option.
6)This image was given in American society because they were labled like that. They all died at a young age and was killed for an unjustified reason.
Professor Sabir
English 201A
5 October 2010
1)Willie's story challenges E.P Jones "The Known World" by showing the concept of racism. Willie was innocent and they knew that.The characters of E.P Jones are also African American and they are also treated unequal. One character to look at is Moses.
2) Willie never really got a chance to love life or his childhood. He was doomedbecause he was innocent but was framed guilty because he was black. Before he was born, it is like he was set up to be guilty.
3)Our Justice system serves no justice for Americans and many realize that. The slaves in The Known World were going no chance and Willie did not get a chance either.
4)It is legal for a person to be executed for a serious crime. There was no moral for Willie becuase he was still young and he did not commit the crime.
5)He has no choice in the end but to die. He never gave up because in the documentary it showed him that he still had character. He never gave up because he was never given no option.
6)This image was given in American society because they were labled like that. They all died at a young age and was killed for an unjustified reason.
# posted by : 2:03 PM
: 2:03 PM
Rachel Marra
Professor Sabir
English 201A 1-3
6 October 2010
In the film about Willie, black people are looked at as not privileged at all. Depending on what race you are, that will determine your lifestyle and the way your going to live. The book and the movie are similar because they both compare black people and their lives. In the movie if your black you automatically have a bad life. In the book, just because your black doesn't mean your going to have a bad life. What's more important in the book is who has money. Willie is doomed by his "known world" before he is born because his lifestyle and life is already planned out for him because that's what he was born into. The death penalty and the killing in jail's is known to many Americans as cruel and unfair. Many of the time people are killed like Willie and even sometimes the person may be innocent that doesn't always matter. Many times issues being delt with through court systems have to decide either legality and morality. Many times morality is looked at a lot because many things done are not moral to humans. Many try to get away with as much as they can as long as it follows the law and what is legal. A lot of the time even though something may be legal, that doesn't always mean it's moral. In the end Willie really has no type of choice, the only thing he can do is wait until he is killed. I believe Willie does give up, but being put in his shoes may make anyone want to just give up. With his case looking really negative, he had no reason to want to back to court. A dead black man is seen as a saint a lot of the time because people feel bad. It's not just because they feel bad but also because they are strong people that have been through a big struggle.
Professor Sabir
English 201A 1-3
6 October 2010
In the film about Willie, black people are looked at as not privileged at all. Depending on what race you are, that will determine your lifestyle and the way your going to live. The book and the movie are similar because they both compare black people and their lives. In the movie if your black you automatically have a bad life. In the book, just because your black doesn't mean your going to have a bad life. What's more important in the book is who has money. Willie is doomed by his "known world" before he is born because his lifestyle and life is already planned out for him because that's what he was born into. The death penalty and the killing in jail's is known to many Americans as cruel and unfair. Many of the time people are killed like Willie and even sometimes the person may be innocent that doesn't always matter. Many times issues being delt with through court systems have to decide either legality and morality. Many times morality is looked at a lot because many things done are not moral to humans. Many try to get away with as much as they can as long as it follows the law and what is legal. A lot of the time even though something may be legal, that doesn't always mean it's moral. In the end Willie really has no type of choice, the only thing he can do is wait until he is killed. I believe Willie does give up, but being put in his shoes may make anyone want to just give up. With his case looking really negative, he had no reason to want to back to court. A dead black man is seen as a saint a lot of the time because people feel bad. It's not just because they feel bad but also because they are strong people that have been through a big struggle.
# posted by : 2:11 PM
: 2:11 PM
Nestor Menddoza
Professor Sabir
English 201A
6 October 2010
1. The story of Willie Frances challenges the notion that E. P. Jones proposes in the novel The Known World that one can't do better or accept any better because it show that no matter how much one tries, there will be no justice.
2. Willie Frances is doomed of his "known world" before he is born because of the time period that he was bought into. There is no equal justice for African Americans, so therefor Francis had no chance when it came to being accused of murder.
3. Willie Francis' sentence was based on the same way some Americans are still treated till this day, with no justice.
4. This story calls to into question the notion of legality vs. morality because the laws are only fair to the people who enforce them, but for the for the person that tryes to follow the law only gets judged depending on their characteristics or appearances.
5. At the end Willie Frances has the chance to fight his case one last time. I believe he gave up too soon, but it wasn't his fault. He was always guilty for all of his other sentences, so for this last one he just assumed that he had no chance at all and faced his doom.
6. A dead black man is seen as a saint because they all died for the wrong reasons. The justice system never gave them a chance, but it never does to anyone.
Professor Sabir
English 201A
6 October 2010
1. The story of Willie Frances challenges the notion that E. P. Jones proposes in the novel The Known World that one can't do better or accept any better because it show that no matter how much one tries, there will be no justice.
2. Willie Frances is doomed of his "known world" before he is born because of the time period that he was bought into. There is no equal justice for African Americans, so therefor Francis had no chance when it came to being accused of murder.
3. Willie Francis' sentence was based on the same way some Americans are still treated till this day, with no justice.
4. This story calls to into question the notion of legality vs. morality because the laws are only fair to the people who enforce them, but for the for the person that tryes to follow the law only gets judged depending on their characteristics or appearances.
5. At the end Willie Frances has the chance to fight his case one last time. I believe he gave up too soon, but it wasn't his fault. He was always guilty for all of his other sentences, so for this last one he just assumed that he had no chance at all and faced his doom.
6. A dead black man is seen as a saint because they all died for the wrong reasons. The justice system never gave them a chance, but it never does to anyone.
# posted by : 2:16 PM
: 2:16 PM
Bundarin Ouk JR
Professor Dabir
Enlish 201A 1-3
6 October 2010
The movie challenges the novel "The Known World" by showing all the racism in both stories. It shows how a black person deal with society in different views, being in diferent class levels. William Francis is already doom from the start, because of his position in the community. Being colored is hard, so now life is evn more harder. William sentence is actually typical in todays world also. Sentences get delayed and the punishment would be unreasonable.The story challenges or call into question the notion of legality vs. morality by comparing it to todays goverment. I think somehow the government is corrupteed and I think it will always will be. William in the end really didn't have much choices ,because it was almost time for him to be executed. I think he gave up at the right time, because I would of gave up actually sooner them him. A dead black man seen as a saint, because there is still too much rascim and I think it will always will be. It just puts a colored person down.
Professor Dabir
Enlish 201A 1-3
6 October 2010
The movie challenges the novel "The Known World" by showing all the racism in both stories. It shows how a black person deal with society in different views, being in diferent class levels. William Francis is already doom from the start, because of his position in the community. Being colored is hard, so now life is evn more harder. William sentence is actually typical in todays world also. Sentences get delayed and the punishment would be unreasonable.The story challenges or call into question the notion of legality vs. morality by comparing it to todays goverment. I think somehow the government is corrupteed and I think it will always will be. William in the end really didn't have much choices ,because it was almost time for him to be executed. I think he gave up at the right time, because I would of gave up actually sooner them him. A dead black man seen as a saint, because there is still too much rascim and I think it will always will be. It just puts a colored person down.
# posted by : 2:20 PM
: 2:20 PM
Ryan McGarry
Professor Sabir
English 201A pm
Ocotober, 6th 2010
1. One can't do beter than what he is given, might as well give up if you were given dirt instead of a silver spoon. The ones who persevere and live through turmoil can achieve great things.
2. Willie is doomed, due to being born into poverty, not having a chance at a good education and being black in a racist anglo saxon society.
3. Willie'sentence was based on a worldwide accepted view that being of color you were already treated like a second-class citizen, guilty of whatever a whiteman accused you of even if there was evidence to prove your innocence.
4. Moral values of Americans back then and still today do not coinside with law and those incharge sometimes make choices that do not dictate the law.
5. Willie still had a choice to fight, but lost the will to do so. After being beat down emotionally & physically, it was too hard for him to see the pain it was causing his family. Willie did not give up to soon.
6. A dead black man is seen as a saint, because of the intense unjust treatment given to them in our "Equal society" and instead of doing something to change laws that discriminate one group of people, we look at the victim as a hero in the Human Rights movement.
Professor Sabir
English 201A pm
Ocotober, 6th 2010
1. One can't do beter than what he is given, might as well give up if you were given dirt instead of a silver spoon. The ones who persevere and live through turmoil can achieve great things.
2. Willie is doomed, due to being born into poverty, not having a chance at a good education and being black in a racist anglo saxon society.
3. Willie'sentence was based on a worldwide accepted view that being of color you were already treated like a second-class citizen, guilty of whatever a whiteman accused you of even if there was evidence to prove your innocence.
4. Moral values of Americans back then and still today do not coinside with law and those incharge sometimes make choices that do not dictate the law.
5. Willie still had a choice to fight, but lost the will to do so. After being beat down emotionally & physically, it was too hard for him to see the pain it was causing his family. Willie did not give up to soon.
6. A dead black man is seen as a saint, because of the intense unjust treatment given to them in our "Equal society" and instead of doing something to change laws that discriminate one group of people, we look at the victim as a hero in the Human Rights movement.
# posted by : 2:27 PM
: 2:27 PM
Ricardo Campos
Professor sabir
English 201A 1pm -3pm
6 October 2010
1.in both the book and movie people are put into situations in which they can not really progress rather they diminish until they have no more to give. In the movie Willie was placed in the electric chair and was charged for murder without any evidence at all. He surived the chair and his case was brought up again but once again they found a unjust way and put him back in the chair where he died .
2. He was doomed because he was born into a poor African American family and in that time that was not the best place to be and you where given little to none opportunities .
3. people are still not always given a fair chance in justice because of there race or economic status.
4. are justice system is worried more about making it look better in paper then in morals of a living human being .
5. Willie ended upgoing back to the electric chair after they gave up on his case in which I think that they gave up too soon o n the case. Given there was no actual evidence for the charges placed upon willie I believe if they would have strived a little longer for his justice and freedom I believe they would have gotten it .
6. I wouldn’t say any dead black man could be seen as saint and just anybody or any race in particular can be seen as a saint just because they died. I belive that label is placed upon a person not because of color but because of what they stood for in life. That label reflects upon what they accomplished in life and how people felt when they passed.
Professor sabir
English 201A 1pm -3pm
6 October 2010
1.in both the book and movie people are put into situations in which they can not really progress rather they diminish until they have no more to give. In the movie Willie was placed in the electric chair and was charged for murder without any evidence at all. He surived the chair and his case was brought up again but once again they found a unjust way and put him back in the chair where he died .
2. He was doomed because he was born into a poor African American family and in that time that was not the best place to be and you where given little to none opportunities .
3. people are still not always given a fair chance in justice because of there race or economic status.
4. are justice system is worried more about making it look better in paper then in morals of a living human being .
5. Willie ended upgoing back to the electric chair after they gave up on his case in which I think that they gave up too soon o n the case. Given there was no actual evidence for the charges placed upon willie I believe if they would have strived a little longer for his justice and freedom I believe they would have gotten it .
6. I wouldn’t say any dead black man could be seen as saint and just anybody or any race in particular can be seen as a saint just because they died. I belive that label is placed upon a person not because of color but because of what they stood for in life. That label reflects upon what they accomplished in life and how people felt when they passed.
# posted by : 2:57 PM
: 2:57 PM
Dulguun Enkhtsogoo
Professor Sabir
English 201 A
11 October 2010
1. Willie’s story challenges E.P Jones "The Known World" by showing the concept of racism. Willie was innocent and they knew that. The characters of E.P Jones are also African American and they are also treated unequal..
2. Willie Francis was doomed before he was born because he was born into African American family, and his family was poor. It was the time that African Americans had no equal justice, they were being mistreated and just bad time for them.
3. In many cases, there are justice and injustice. In Willie’s case he had been accused of murder under false information, and he was found guilty. Everywhere around the world, things like this happen because of the corrupt governments. Also class matters. If you are nobody, then you are doomed, if you’re somebody, maybe your case might dismiss and it’s just like that.
4. This story calls to into question the notion of legality vs. morality because the laws are the laws, and they go by them. They didn’t want to believe that he was innocent because he was a minor and black. They go by the law but in reality you have to look at the case and make better decisions and be fair.
5. He had no choice at end of his life. His only choice was to get executed, but before that he fought though everything and he was strong because he survived his first execution, he fought his case until his case and his family never gave up on him either.
6. They are looked as a saint because they fought for their rights, they believed in change and fought for the human rights and everybody respects that because they fought for us.
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Professor Sabir
English 201 A
11 October 2010
1. Willie’s story challenges E.P Jones "The Known World" by showing the concept of racism. Willie was innocent and they knew that. The characters of E.P Jones are also African American and they are also treated unequal..
2. Willie Francis was doomed before he was born because he was born into African American family, and his family was poor. It was the time that African Americans had no equal justice, they were being mistreated and just bad time for them.
3. In many cases, there are justice and injustice. In Willie’s case he had been accused of murder under false information, and he was found guilty. Everywhere around the world, things like this happen because of the corrupt governments. Also class matters. If you are nobody, then you are doomed, if you’re somebody, maybe your case might dismiss and it’s just like that.
4. This story calls to into question the notion of legality vs. morality because the laws are the laws, and they go by them. They didn’t want to believe that he was innocent because he was a minor and black. They go by the law but in reality you have to look at the case and make better decisions and be fair.
5. He had no choice at end of his life. His only choice was to get executed, but before that he fought though everything and he was strong because he survived his first execution, he fought his case until his case and his family never gave up on him either.
6. They are looked as a saint because they fought for their rights, they believed in change and fought for the human rights and everybody respects that because they fought for us.
# posted by : 2:21 PM
: 2:21 PM << Home
