Essay Questions

How do Anderson and Ward get information to prosecute the murderers?

Anderson and Ward stage violence directed towards Lester Cowens, but they do it dressed as members of the Klan, and put a burning cross in his yard. With the belief that the Klan is out to kill him, Cowens confesses to who was involved in the murder of the three Civil Rights workers. With this confession they are able to get justice, though in a metered way as the murderers and those complicit get minimal sentences and the Sheriff is acquitted.

Why does the Reverend ask the congregation to be angry with him?

The body of the young black man who was murdered is being laid to rest and the Reverend gives his message to the congregation which is primarily black. He asks them to be angry with him. To be angry for the reality that this young black man is meant to be seen as equal because he lost his life with two other Civil Rights workers, but yet the state of Mississippi won't allow his body to be buried with the other two (who are white). He can't allow himself to be okay with the status quo, too many lives are being taken from them to continue along the same path of mourning and expect to see change. His call to be angry with him is a cry for justice to be called for in solidarity.

Why can't the Mayor's confession be used?

The Mayor has confessed to what happened to the three Civil Rights workers who were murdered by Klansmen. But this confession cannot be used in a court of law because he admitted this under coercion as he was being threatened with torture if he didn't tell the truth. This means that Anderson and Ward must go about getting a confession in a way that will be held up in the court of law, and that they have resorted to crossing a boundary of ethics in order to get the information they need.