Dead Man Walking Analysis

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The South is arguably the most religious area in the United States. Growing up in the South, church is more of a weekly reunion as opposed to a religious gathering. Church is a dwelling where the elders would gather afterward and tell the local football coaches what they were doing wrong, or where members could catch up on the gossip in the community. Brown’s Chapel United Methodist Church is my church, and taught me about the temptations in life and my savior, Jesus Christ. From church camp to bible school, nothing will be able to supersede the memories I have made at this church. Over the course of the semester, this class has explored prominent religions across the South. From snake handlers to slaves sneaking off to religious gatherings, …show more content…
Based off a true story, Sister Helen Prejean pursued the abolition of the death penalty. Driven by spiritual transformation and social injustices, Sister Helen moves to the projects in New Orleans, Louisiana to gain a first-hand understanding of the struggle of African Americans. As the movie progresses, Sister Helen meets Patrick and Robert, who are both death row inmates. Patrick’s story was tremendously saddening. Sentenced to death, Sister Helen finds out that Patrick’s brother, Eddie, was the one that killed the two teenagers. Robert on the other hand views himself as a rebel. In and out of jail since fourteen, Robert professes admiration for Hitler and Castro. The days leading up to his execution, Robert finally has a sense of peace with his actions and hopes that his death will bring peace to the girl’s parents that he killed. Later, Sister Helen presents on the news that many people are put to death for crimes they did not commit. The fact that people are punished with the death penalty today is troubling to me, and if these people were innocent the court system could not do anything about it. Sister Helen goes on to say “… that government kills are too costly for us, not only financially, but more importantly morally.” Overall, Dead Man Walking was a personal account of how many people are all in for their beliefs and live a life of …show more content…
Each piece was very insightful and explains many of the feelings I felt growing up in my church. Known as “the Bible Belt,” the South has a very rich history as it pertains to religion. One interesting part I found was that African-Americans during slavery were not allowed at first to practice Christianity because slaveholders thought it would “spoil the slaves by encouraging ideas of equality” (Religion, 248). Based on previous readings, I found this to align with the oppression that African-Americans were facing during this time. Previously, slaves would practice the religions they brought from West African. One fascinating part of the reading was the idea of the “shared” religion. “Made up of the beliefs and practices of Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal Holiness, and, to a degree, Presbyterian churches provided the framework for the shared religion of the South” (Religion, 261). These white mainline church beliefs do not dominate the South anymore however. In Preacher, Don’t Send Me, I believe Maya Angelou worried that heaven might be like her community growing up. Maya Angelou is hoping that heaven is not “some big ghetto in the sky.” Her only wish is that “families are loyal.” In The Gift of Tongues, Morgan speaks about the awful fire which I believe might be the flame of God. In line 9, it says “What’s he saying”. I
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