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Lena Baker: First-Degree Murder Of Ernest B. Monk

659 Words3 Pages

"I prefer to characterize rape simply as a form of torture. Like the torturer, the rapist is motivated by the urge to dominate, humiliate, and destroy his victim. Like a torturer, he does so by using the most intimate acts available to humans -- sexual ones," Helen Benedict, an American novelist and journalist best known for writing about social injusticr, said (911 rape). The rapist, Knight, took advantage of her by sexually assaulting her and was “motivated by the urge to dominate, humiliate and destroy his victim.” Lena Baker was that victim. Lena Baker was convicted for first-degree murder of Ernest B. Knight, a Georgian miller officer, and was the first and last woman to be electrocuted in Georgia’s electric chair. She was hired to take …show more content…

During the segregation era in the 1940s and 1950s, whites and blacks were separated. They had signs that said, “Whites” and “Colored” to distinguish who could where. Equality was key in the African-Americans’ eyes. According to the article, “Executed But Possibly Innocent,” “Baker was tried, convicted, and sentenced to die in one day by an all-white, all-male jury.” Because of her race and gender, she was immediately convicted of murder, and shortly after, executed. It was definite that injustice was done solely based on her skin color and that she was a female. The court case dismissed the with no evidence provided to support …show more content…

In the small town of Cuthbert, Georgia, the sexual relationship of Baker, and Knight shocked neighbors because the 1940’s were a time of segregation.” But this statement simply is not true. Knight did not receive Baker’s consent to have sexual intercourse; thus, he raped her. “He'd liquor her up, rape her and keep her barricaded in a room at his mill. He'd bring her food but refuse to let her go home to take care of her children” (Pritchett, Rachel). African Americans were perceived as slaves and “minorities”, and the rest of society treated them inhumane during the

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