A Lesson Before Dying is the story of a teacher's attempt to help a young black man wrongly accused of murder to die like a man, to go to his death with dignity. For the young man, the act becomes one of courage and the most empowering and powerful act of his life. I think the book teaches another lesson about those who are burdened by our prejudices, our distorted perspectives, and who are sacrificed and made scapegoats. In this way, the young man becomes like Jesus and is made innocent by his sacrifice.