The Story Of Lena Baker
By Rozie37
@Rozie37 (15499)
Turkmenistan
May 25, 2008 12:14am CST
I had never heard of this person or her story and I must admit that I will not be seeing the movie of her life story. Things like this make me too angry. But I decided to share her story on Mylot as a tribute to her life and legacy.
This is about an African American woman who was put to death on March 5, 1945, by electric chair. She had told her white boss that she was going to quit her job. He locked her up and threatned to brand her with an iron. She shot and killed him. After one day of court deliberation, the jury decided that she was lying and sentenced her to death. This took place in Georgia. The justice system of Georgia, have since apologized to her family and admitted that a charge of manslaughter would have been more appropriate and spared her life.
I am glad that they have decided to do the movie, but it is just too much for me to handle. Have you ever been severely punished for trying to protect yourself from harm? If so, please share.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7417459.stm
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
26 May 08
I had never heard of this lady until now neither. I do think it is important for everyone to see the film. It should make us angry, whether we are white, black or purple. If we don't get angry then there is something seriously wrong with us. That poor girl, she saved her own life to end up being killed, that is so sad.
1 person likes this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
26 May 08
I crave peace too. In my life and peace in the world. I don't like watching some of the horror movies, not because I am scared. Its because I know that there is evil like that in this world, thats the part that is scary. I do believe that there is much more good in this world then evil. Take care Rozie and have a good day. I went to sleep last night with that "darn" song in my head, hehe.
1 person likes this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
26 May 08
You are right, color does not matter. Evil is ugly in any color. When I am confronted with stories like this, I just don't know how to handle it. It is not about race, it is about the senselessness of it. There are so many evil things going on in this world now, that when I see things from the past, it just lets me know that the same old ugly devil is still very busy today. I will be glad when Jesus comes back and drives all of the evil to hell where it belongs. I crave a peaceful world.
1 person likes this
@dodoguy (1292)
• Australia
25 May 08
Hi Rozie37,
That's a sad story to read about, but I'll bet there's countless more just like it, or worse.
And not just in the State of Georgia in the USA, but all around the world.
I guess poor Lena Baker had a double whammy, being both black and female - can't get much worse than that in a racist, paternalistic society.
But prejudice and injustice is part of the human condition - as long as there's someone calling the shots, someone else will get shot. As long as there's someone with power over others, someone will be abusing it.
A joke I occasionally hear is that the most underprivileged folk in Western society are single, white, heterosexual males. Which is a little funny, because that used not to be true - but now there's actually some basis to it.
Whoever has the least influence and political power are the ones most likely to get a raw deal. So things change over time, but there's always someone who isn't being treated fairly by the rest of society.
That's the way human societies seem to operate - always have, always will.
So Lean Baker's story is sad, but you can most likely find heaps more similar stories if you had the stomach to dig for them.
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
25 May 08
Oh believe me, I know that there are much worse. That is why I do not go looking. But sometimes I just happen upon one. I can feel the damage being done to my body when I get this upset. My teeth clinch and my throat gets tight. I know that I have a problem with anger, but stories like this do very little to help it.
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
26 May 08
Oh believe me, I have been doing my best to keep up with what is going on in this world. although the majority of it makes me angry, I have been writing on Mylot about it and warning people that they need to get their lives right with God, before it is too late.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I have heard about this before, and it does make me a little mad that they never believed her at this time, and still today there are times when things happen that if you are Black, you have no chance which is really Sad. Why are there still so many people out there who are so prejudiced? I look at it this way, there are Good and Bad people out there in the world. It does not matter what color your skin is, or who you are, and where you come from. Each person out there should be given the same chance and opportunities in life to succeed, and it is up to them what they do from there.
1 person likes this
