Such is the story of Lena Baker, an African-American mother of three, who was electrocuted at the Georgia State Prison in Reidsville.
She was convicted for the fatal shooting of E. B. Knight, a white Cuthbert, Georgia mill operator she was hired to care for after he broke his leg. She was 44 and the only woman ever executed in Georgia’s electric chair. For Baker, a Black maid in the segregated south in the 1940’s, her story was a tough sell to a jury of 12 white men. And rumors that she was romantically involved with victim E. B. Knight did not help.
Her murder trial lasted just a day, without a single witness called by her court-appointed lawyer. She was convicted and sentenced to death. John Cole Vodicka, director of an Americus-based inmate advocacy program known as the Prison and Jail Project, said Knight had kept Ms. Baker as his "virtual sex slave." She was his paramour, she was his mistress, and, among other things, his drinking partner. If you read the transcript and have any understanding of black-white relations, Black women were often subjected to the sexual whims of their white masters, their white bosses, or some white man who had control over their lives or the lives of their families. "Here is one who resisted and paid the price.”
The undertaker who brought her body back to Cuthbert buried her in a grave that went unmarked for five decades, until the congregation of Mount Vernon Baptist Church raised $250 for a concrete slab and marker. Relatives are still trying to clear her name with the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole.
Lena Baker, who had a sixth-grade education, stated publicly her innocence to the very end. “What I done, I did in self-defense," she said in her final statement. "I have nothing against anyone. I am ready to meet my God.”
A novel, The Lena Baker Story, authored by Lela Bond Phillips, chronicles her life. This book was the basis for a screenplay by actor/director Ralph Wilcox filmed in 2007 in Southwest Georgia. The film, also entitled "The Lena Baker Story," stars Tichina Arnold in the title role, Peter Coyote, Beverly Todd and Michael Rooker and is due for theatrical release in Spring 2009.
'The Lena Baker Story,' by Lela Bond Phillips
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**luck** 21 months ago | reply
jjgoldmejeff 21 months ago | reply
WOW what next so little change
TheColetrain 21 months ago | reply
Nothing new under the sun, what was done continues to be done. The question is when will it stop, when Christ comes?
Been Buddy Longway 21 months ago | reply
We must speak out, encourage each other, and yes, pray, and do the lil steps we can, in our concrete situation. We can start by sending this image to some friends that might be moved and inspired like we are by the story of Lena Baker
The recent case, also horrible, of the Afro American man killed by the Texas government has prepared the minds to say no to death penalty.
As Europeans we cannot understand this cruelty by the authorities.
The history of the South of USA has been soaked with violence, I pray the time is right to let it go
jaxx8701 21 months ago | reply
I agree with most of the comments on this blog, what a sad story. How can we turn such travesties like this into something good. When, I read this so many emotions came to play. Why are black men with white women? Hate, Anger.... But none of my thoughts bring this beautiful woman back to life. I guess what I' trying to get at is the best way to change this thing is to start loving.
Been Buddy Longway 21 months ago | reply
Yes, Jaxx, we have to start loving, making sure to mix reverence in our Love...
Love can be dangerous, love can be "brutal, false and unkind" (from "Love is a stranger" by Annie Lennox, The Eurythmics). Good Love probably always involves a degree of self sacrifice. Those men that brutally "love" their partner, it is abhoring.
Been Buddy Longway 21 months ago | reply
To be.Jones: please make a difference: recent statistics in the essay by the British Philosopher Roger Scruton "The uses of pessimism and the danger of false hope", point out that the chances of child abuse or murder by the 'new friend' of a young mother are some 70 times higher: the real father of a child is his best protector. By instinct, a new friend that comes in after a relation breack, sees the child as a stand in the way... Traditional respect for durable marriages is a good road to protect women and children.
shabazz2012 21 months ago | reply
its harsh to say but without slaves this country woudnt even be the land of the free. stories like this make u wonder how the blacks in those days survied in those conditions, but it goes to show the strength and dedication of the black race. i hope they clear her name of any wrong doing and give her a proper burial
techness08 21 months ago | reply
Yes that just is not right at all. Terrible. Just to think this still goes on today with women of any color. We all just need to learn karate and kick their butts. LOL S
ladyac24 21 months ago | reply
the movie was excellent it puts the whole story into perspective sad but a good movie
warrenttaylor 21 months ago | reply
Pointing fingers and saying that one race is better than the other has no place on this thread. There is only one real race, and that is the human race. This is about good versus evil. It is about the tyranny of the majority or those in power. This type of abuse of power by human beings has been going on since the beginning of time, and it is dead wrong. This is like Groundhog day. When will people finally get it right, and stop abusing, exploiting and killing one another? When will we have justice for everyone, and not JUST US for those in power? Hatred begets hatred! What goes around comes around. Karma wins out every time.
~Kicha~ 21 months ago | reply
@warrentaylor, I wholeheartedly agree.
Racism of any kind will not be tolerated. I didn't post these images/stories to prove the superiority/inferiority/good/evil of any race. These people and events are a part of history. History that the majority out there have probably never heard of. I've been accused of dredging up the past. Well, that is history isn't it? History isn't always pretty. And what I find so tragic is the fact that so many out there have never even heard of most of the people and events I post about.
It takes me awhile to go through all the comments but when I come across stupidity I will delete the comment and block that person.
dogholoh 21 months ago | reply
I would have met my fate (death) much sooner, because the first time he tried it with me would have been the last! It never ended in favor of the Black woman being abused.
The knowledge of such as this is the reason so many cheered on the O.J. verdict in his murder trial. It was, finally, a black man was able to use their system as they do.
kiko1983 21 months ago | reply
DAMN!!
Queenmajesty 21 months ago | reply
Forgive them Lord for they know not what they do. Grace, Peace & Light. cx
doneoj 21 months ago | reply
trial lasted only one day, no witnesses called by the court appointed attorney. No defense. No riots... We hardly even know about this woman. Well until now! This was an example of RACISM! One group controlled the lives, had power and dominance over another group. This woman (like so many others) was railroaded. All white male jury ( of her peers). This judicial system was really broke! though Im sure some thought it was ideal but not for blacks.
vw4854 21 months ago | reply
a more revealing and accurate account of what it was like to be "The Help".
beachbum2013 21 months ago | reply
uliwilms 21 months ago | reply
well, I think we made progress but we still tend to punish people of color more than white people. Is it by instinct or institutionalized and acquired bias? I don't know. I have problems with a death penalty anyway since we as a society are not any better than killer if we kill of people.
kdfreeman2012 17 months ago | reply
My husband had bought this movie for me last year. When I saw the movie I was literally in tears and crying! This really touch my heart as if I personally knew her and was there in that time. May her soul rest in peace!