The book follows Grant Wiggins, a Black plantation schoolteacher in 1940’s Louisiana, who has been asked to help Jefferson, a man on death row die with dignity, after the legal and justice system thoroughly dehumanized him.

Through this lens the book examines racism in both the institutional and individual forms, the difficulty of escaping the Deep South, generational trauma, dignity and strength and how societal change happens.

It’s heavy, heavy stuff. Gaines writes from experience, and he creates strong tension in small moments — when Grant interacts with White folk, especially White folk in positions of authority, the subtext of every action and word is more relevant than the text.

So much of this story rings true today, as it did in 1993 when the book was published, as it did in the time that the book is set.

Don’t tell me to believe. Don’t tell me to believe in the same God or laws that men believe in who commit these murders. Don’t tell me to believe that God can bless this country and that men are judged by their peers. Who among his peers judged him? Was I there? Was the minister there? Was Harry Williams there? Was Farrell Jarreau? Was my aunt? Was Vivian? No, his peers did not judge him—and I will not believe.

Yet they must believe. They must believe, if only to free the mind, if not the body. Only when the mind is free has the body a chance to be free. Yes, they must believe, they must believe. Because I know what it means to be a slave. I am a slave.

It’s unforgettable, powerful stuff.