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Dites-leur que je suis un homme

Dites-leur que je suis un homme

Historical FictionLiterary Fiction
Pages
300
Published
1994
Language
French

Synopsis

In 1940s Louisiana, a young, uneducated Black man is wrongly accused of murder and sentenced to death. Treated as less than human during his trial, Jefferson faces his fate with a profound lack of dignity. His godmother enlists the help of a local teacher, Grant Wiggins, to help Jefferson reclaim his humanity before his execution. This sets the stage for an intense encounter between two men from vastly different worlds.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

SadEmotionalThought-Provoking
Redemption ArcMentor FigureComing of Age

Genres

Historical Fiction Literary Fiction

About the author

E
Ernest J. Gaines

Ernest J. Gaines was born on a plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, the oldest of 12 children. His parents moved to Vallejo, California during World War II, so he was raised by his aunt, who was crippled and limited to crawling to get around. His was the fifth generation of share croppers to live on the plantation, and his family lived in a house that had formerly been slave quarters. During the summers, he picked cotton, and during the winters he was educated at the the plantation chu...

Characters

JeffersonProtagonist
Grant WigginsProtagonist
All characters in Dites-leur que je suis un homme

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Dites-leur que je suis un homme based on a true story?

    While the specific characters and events are fictional, the novel is deeply rooted in the historical realities of racial injustice and the legal system in the American South during the mid-20th century. Ernest J. Gaines drew on his own experiences and observations growing up in rural Louisiana to create a powerful and authentic portrayal of the era.

  • What awards did Dites-leur que je suis un homme win?

    The novel was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction in 1993. It also received the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award.