MovieChat Forums > Life (1999) Discussion > Would white people really care so much?

Would white people really care so much?

posted 9 years ago by abajasds
6 replies | jump to latest

I mean I wasn't born the 1930's and especially not raised in Mississippi, but do you think the white boys that found Ray and Claude by Winston Hancock's body would have cared so much if a black man was killed whether it was by Ray or Claude? In those days, in white people's eyes black on black crime didn't seem like much of a crime. My guess is, is that Winston Hancock must have been a known man in those parts.

I mean even then, it was easier to blame a crime on a black man even if he wasn't at the scene of the crime, but do you think they would have cared so much?

My job is to inform, not persuade- Dan Rather

[–] Brandestoc 9 years ago

I was also thinking similar, and also that they probably wouldn't have gotten life since they don't seem to value black people at the time.
But then I remembered that since it was the sheriff that framed them, he probably somehow suggested the life sentence to the judge, so that there's no way ray and claude would be able to blab to anyone.

[–] Neptunechild87 9 years ago

Blab to anyone about what?? They didnt know the sheriff killed that guy until they saw him with the watch and they still didnt know for sure that the sheriff actually killed him because neither one was there. And EVEN if they were there who is gonna believe them or even care if the sheriff killed the guy??

[–] bossat2822 9 years ago

The thing is, the state got free labor from prisoners. Remember what old sheriff pike (r lee ermey) said. " at least the state of Mississippi got free labor" or something like that. Shacks for houses, cheap food, limited medical. Prolly cost Mississippi a buck a day per prisoner back then

[–] firstwinsgop-1 9 years ago

I mean I wasn't born the 1930's and especially not raised in Mississippi, but do you think the white boys that found Ray and Claude by Winston Hancock's body would have cared so much if a black man was killed whether it was by Ray or Claude? In those days, in white people's eyes black on black crime didn't seem like much of a crime.

This is simply not true. Murder was considered a far more serious offense in the 1930's and people in the South actually interacted and socialized with blacks far more than people in the North so the killing of a black would be taken far more seriously down South than up North. Black on Black crime is taken far less seriously today than it was back then.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mikeyg24 8 years ago

Who said they cared about the death of a black man? There was an opportunity to throw two black guys in prison and force them into slavery for the rest of their lives.

Hey! You're not old enough to drink! Now go and die for your country!!!