This week in class we discussed the assigned readings “The Lynching of Jube Benson: Paul Lawrence Dunbar" and The Sport of the Gods. Both of these works of literature described life of African Americans who were falsely accused of crimes and unjustly punished. In The Lynching of Jube Benson, the character Jube is accused of murdering a white woman and possibly raping her before murdering her. The white female’s dying words were “…The black.” Everyone’s first thought was an African American had done the deed and lynched Jube. However, at the end a white man was found to be the real killer. In class, we briefly discussed how it was common during this time for white men to put dirt on their face and pretend to be black as to cause blame on them.

                The Sport of the Gods was an interest book to read in that it reminded me of television program I saw but can’t remember the name. The novel told of a former slave who now worked for a white family and while working their met his wife and had two children. One day the white husband’s brother visits. During his stay, he loses a large sum of money and accuses the male African American for stealing. He is sent to prison leaving his family to fend for themselves. His daughter becomes an actress/singer and pushes her mother to remarry. Evidence is found to prove the African American’s innocence and if brought to the attention of the white employers. To prevent their shame and accusation, they try to hide this but the truth is brought forward and the former slave freed. The released former slave finds out his wife was remarry and planned to kill this other man but realizes he does not need to be because this “new” man was killed by the men he owned money to. The story ends with the two African Americans together and the white employers begging them to come and work for them.

                Peer reviews on our first essay draft went fairly well today. I learned some a few new techniques to implement into my essay after reading everyone In my group’s essay and a few suggestions for intros and endings.