Martyrdom In The Autobiography Of Miss Jane Pittman

The most essential and influential part to revolutionary societal change is martyrdom. Martyrdom is the most important part for a societal change to happen because the significance of multiple dying for their beliefs brings more attention to the injustice, hence a change in society, laws, and culture occur. Quite notably, Jimmy or “The One”, died at the end of story when he tried to make a change in society and fight for equal rights for African Americans. Jane recalled that Jimmy was in Alabama and Mississippi with Martin Luther King Jr., who was also a martyr in the civil rights movement, and they both were arrested. At a church service, Jimmy tries to convince others, mostly elders, to come with him and protest, although Jane was the only one that was willing to participate. Jimmy then was killed because he wanted to protest that African Americans

For example, Ned “joined a committee” (75) that would report on how “the colored was living” (75) in parishes. Ned told the committee that African Americans were not treated any differently than in slavery. He then had to leave Kansas due to the possibility of him being killed for being on the committee. When Ned came back to the south, he built a school. He also told Jane about Mr. Booker T Washington and Frederick Douglass, and what message they propagated. Many people did not like the idea of Ned preaching and educating people like he did. For example, when he had a sermon by the river two weeks before his death, he said,”Your people’s bones and their dust make this place yours more than anything else”(113) this made white people mad enough that they told Albert Cluveau they wanted Ned dead. Albert listened and did brutally kill Ned soon after. Ned was killed simply because he wanted, and did, make a change in society by preaching and educating many