Picking Cotton
- What are some things Ronald Cotton does to make life bearable while he is in prison? Do you believe he finds them helpful?
Life in prison at a point becomes hard. The convicts get moments that they have to feel like giving up. It becomes even worse when the jury convicts you for a count that you did not carry out. In the memoir, Picking Cotton; our memoir of injustice and redemption, Ronald brings an account of his life in prison amidst a wrong conviction by the jury. His eleven years stay in prison that was filled with anger at the unreliability in eye witness. To make his life bearable, he carries out the following activities.
Firstly, he participated in writing letters. In the first of December, 1985- He is writing a letter addressing the attorney Mosley. As an inmate and a better part of the second account of this book, Ronald writes letters. In his address to Mosley, he narrates on account of events and how hard it was in there. He also records that “I had written letter after letter hoping some newspaper would pick my story.” (Page 206)
Secondly, Ronald in the Graham Jail enjoyed singing. In Saturday, during the worship services, Ronald accounts his time in singing hymns. Having grown up loving music, it made his days as an inmate going. He writes on chapter eight that he continued singing with the choir and his voices rising high over the hundred-year-old walls of the Central Prison. In the account with the judge, he is seen singing the song that he had written. It is, therefore, evident that he enjoyed writing and singing songs.
Additionally, there is an account of him mopping and sweeping the kitchen. It is in working at the kitchen that he further narrates on his suspicion of Bobby Poole. He also further loved to keep himself less worried, and in this manner, he kept it always presentable in his looks. He records down, “It was essential to show your family you were taking care of yourself; they had enough to worry about. (Page 200)
Lastly, Cotton over his stay as an inmate, he records that reading also assisted him. At the night that his charges were doubled, he read from the book of Psalms and also prayed before his bunk before his new trial. In his reading, he pleads that God may not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. It is, therefore, a show that in his prosecution and also the time in prison, he enjoyed reading more so from the Biblical accounts.
In summary, these things that Ronald carries out to make his life in prison bearable are what that kept him going. The eleven years in prison meant a long journey. Through his physical activities, he, therefore, finds solace amidst all the accusations that were made falsely. The racial injustices he accounts could not have paved a smooth path were it not for these activities.
- Why did Ronald Cotton sing the song he had written when the judge asked him if he had anything to say? Do you believe it helped his case? Why or why not?
In the courtroom, Mr Cotton wanted to appeal to the hearts of all those that were listening. The words that he had written in the county jail carried a message that was relevant to the happening of his situation. “I am not the same person I used to be” (Page 255) the words from the song show the much agony that Cotton has struggled to come in terms with it. In his pursuit of the judicial system to come to his rescue, he pens down this little song. His singing was supposed to explain his innocence. The mixed reaction in court was a sign of the success that his singing had brought about. I believe that singing this song paved the way for a renewed approach in the manner the court handled his counts. Despite the two life sentences, he managed to burst into a song, and that made Dan and Phil bow their heads. Ultimately the identification wrongly is brought into a proper justice, and he is declared as improperly convicted.
- At one point, Cotton states the following, “Put a man in a cage with beasts and throw away the key, and it is usually not very long before the man is a beast himself. I know my innocence would not matter if I gave in to the violence around me. (155) how does he avoid becoming a beast while he is in prison
In prison, there are many incidents through which Ronald is forced to act in a fury. The incidents of fighting that are experienced after his account of another rape against Mary Reynolds highlight on how bitter he is. To the extent of wanting to murder Bobby Poole, is an illustration of how he was almost turning out to be a beast. However, he resolves not to give in to violence around him. His resilience is shown in how firm he stands not to be corrupted by all that was going through him. The grounds on a high level of Christian morality. Through hymns and praying, he is composed to keep on fighting. The numerous quoting of the Biblical Psalms shows how important it was in his resolve to keep calm. How his family believed in him is also a valuable tool.
- How does Cotton handle the news that he is getting out of prison? What are some important details that show how he is dealing with his freedom? How does Jennifer Thompson-Cannino handle the news that he is getting out of prison? What are some of the details that show how she is dealing with his freedom and the knowledge that she put an innocent man beyond bars?
As the flaws in criminal justice are brought to an end in this book, Cotton handles the news unworriedly. He is afraid of life after prison, but he remains relaxed all through. The life after exoneration brings forward a man full of vigour. He is compensated, and much of the time he spends in talking about the injustices that the criminal justice brings forth. Jennifer, on the other hand, is guilt and stunned. Lastly, the two decide to part the differences and forge a genuine friendship model that bringing forward an uplifting module to talk about the flaws in the criminal justice system in Northern California, United States and the globe at large. The guilt, therefore, shows that she is dealing with the knowledge of putting an innocent man behind the bar.
- What do you believe is the most important message or the themes that Cotton and Thompson-Cannino are sending to their readers. Please Explain.
In this memoir, the major thematic concern is on injustices at the court system. Based on wrong accusations by the eyewitnesses, the book illustrates how it becomes inhumane to send someone into prison for the allegations that he did not commit. It is through the Cotton and Jennifer experiences that racial discrimination and other forms of ills are illustrated in this book complementing the concern of injustice in court systems.
Work Cited
Thompson-Cannino, Jennifer. “Picking cotton.” New York (2009).