Literature response to Witness

Witness

Witness



This book displayed a strong and deep message that included history as well as point of view from characters from the 1924 era. The way in which the book was written in a short dialogue method, made the characters sound real and put the reader in the actual time of the events in the story. Personally, I felt that this book captivated my attention and was a very good read. I did not want to put the book down. Because I like history, I was interested in many of the characters presented and the roles in which they played. Johnny Reeves, Iris Weaver, and Percelle Johnson were the characters of interest to me along with the other main characters. The following passages were of importance to me.

Johnny Reeves: Some preacher down south has himself a following
Of coloreds and whites, together.
They trail after him from town to town, forgetting their duties
To home.
They even tried him, neighbor, they tried him
Before a jury of white men for inciting trouble,
For leading the lord’s sheep to stray,
And still, neighbor, it grieves me to tell you that still,
They let the devil go free.

It’s a sorry state neighbor, it’s a pitiful state of affairs when a
Colored preacher can lure good white folk from their hearths.
(p. 14)

Iris Weaver: I was born protestant.
But I’d join the catholic church before I’d throw my lot in with
The klan. (p. 58)

Percelle Johnson: dang,
Young merlin van tornhout is walking everywhere because he
“gave” his car to a klansman. If the riffraff joining the klan these
days can take the one thing most loved from an awestruck boy, why couldn’t they plant a bottle of liquor in the pocket of a
hanged man? (p. 95)

The above passages were shocking to me because they come from three very interesting people at that certain era. A preacher, a single, white, female, restaurant owner/rum-runner, and a town constable. The three passages mentioned above, struck me in ways that I could relate to current social situations. Johnny Reeves was a minister, but was a main klan member. Why was his mindset against the “colored”? Today, we would expect all ministers to be welcoming of every color, race, ethnic background, etc. Not Johnny Reeves.
Iris Weaver was my personal favorite. She was a very smart woman and had her own identity which I respected. Although she was a rum-runner, and committing illegal acts, I felt her strength and opinion was the strongest in the book. Percelle Johnson did not seem to care that she did the rum running, but again, Percelle being a police officer/town constable, was very interesting in his views of the klan as well. Percelle Johnson knew what was right and what was wrong. He knew that the klan was wrong. He did his job. Percelle knew that Merlin was in trouble, but what is a town constable to do other than his job? Percelle Johnson did do his job even though the klan was around.