How did reading this novel affect your knowledge that much in the book is based on actual events?

[Michelle]

I find it hard to believe that we have a judicial system that is so flawed that an innocent man can be put to death. Taking someone's life should never occurr but you would think that it would be investigated thoroughly before sentencing some to death

[Annie]

I don't think it's the system at all. I do believe it's the people that are a part of that system that are living in the early 20th century that are prejudi ce and been raised that way. Why give a black man a second look when he is accused of killing another person especially a white person. They don't care if he was innocent or not. They have been trying to get rid of Negroes for as long as we can remember. So, I think they just looked the other way and wouldn't even consider following up on the news that could've saved his life.

[Michelle]

I feel the same way Annie. It makes me sad to see that people can be so ignorant. I have never been raised around race being a concern so I just feel that it is normal to just accept a person for who they are. I know people are based soley on their race, especially in Donte's case. I can bet if he were a white boy things would have been a hell of a lot different. I also think that if Boyette were black they would have gave more thought to his confession.

[Devlynn]

With me, it was that I know he was an attorney, and He had knowledge and first hand experience when it came to cases like this. He used alot of facts in book, that were obviously fact. Wait, I am coming back to this one.. I must think about all the instances he brought up regarding the death penalty..