I found what Max said about Bigger during the trial to be
very moving. He pointed out many of the things wrong in their society. For
example, why this crime had received so much negative press and angry mobs. Max
points out that the mobs and Bigger are strangers, blinded by hate. People had
already assumed Bigger was guilty of murder and rape before the trial, this was
mostly stemmed is racism. Max explains the problems of segregation and how
blacks are oppressed, he tells the story from Bigger’s point of view, saying he
didn’t kill, but theoretically lived for the first time of his life. I
appreciate Max; I think he and Jan were the only ones who were honestly trying
to help Bigger. They were the only ones who saw the truth. In Buckley’s
testimony, he brings up the rape of Mary frequently and believes Bigger had
planned the entire crime before it was committed. Both of these we know to be
false. The problem is, those in the book don’t know this except for Max and
Jan. The underlying racism and hints that Bigger is emotionless and sadistic were
shown in the press coverage, the statements given by Buckley prior to the trial
and the testimony of Buckley. When comparing
the two testimonies, Max vs. Buckley, I see a major difference between the two.
Max’s testimony was rooted in hope, hope for a better society, hope for
acceptance and a hope for the public to see the flaws, why this segregation and
racism is helping no one and needs to stop. Buckley’s testimony does the
opposite of this; his is rooted in hate and hopes to inflict this same hate and
fear of Bigger into others. Buckley's prosecution is what Max was trying to dissuade the public from. Sadly, the public sees Buckley’s side of the story, as opposed to Max’s.
This results in Bigger being sentenced to death.
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