Lena baker was an african american maid who was executed for murder by the state of georgia in 1945 for killing her employer, ernest knight. Based on the book the lena baker story by lela bond phillips, ralph wilcox wrote, produced and directed the lena baker story, a featurelength docudrama which will be released on dvd on january 4. Barnholtz entertainments drama, distributed on dvd by lionsgate, is adapted from the book the lena baker story by lela bond phillips. Oct 07, 2010 the lena baker story, a movie about the only woman executed by electric chair in georgia only to be posthumously pardoned 60 years later was released on dvd on jan. The film was written for the screen and directed by ralph wilcox and stars tichina arnold and peter coyote. Lena is about a young girl who takes her sister and trecks across the country to get away from an abusive father, but doesnt really make it all that far. Rent the lena baker story 2008 starring tichina arnold and beverly todd on dvd and bluray. The film was written for the screen and directed by. He was born august 10, 1927 to john and lena baker, was senior class president and. At the time of bakers execution, the georgia prison system was under scrutiny for reform.
Family members have since then cleaned up the graveyard to create a memorial to lena baker to erase the shame associated with her name for over 60 years. Most may remember her as martin lawrences nemesis on the tv comedy martin, and as chris rocks mom on everybody hates chris. Almost sixty years after her tragic death, i knew her story cried out to be told and i was going to tell it. Film dramatizes true story of southern injustice the lena. Adapted from the book by lela bond phillips, with assistance by karan pittman, and written for the screen by director ralph wilcox, the movie is. Her family moved to the county seat when she was a child. The lena baker story has been added to your cart add to cart.
The lena baker story was written, directed, and produced by ralph wilcox. Americas moral crisis, as an example of the dangers of racism and of the death penalty, saying that had the dead man been white, she would likely have been wrongfully executed like. Little known black history of the only woman, though falsely accused, to be executed by electric chair in the state of georgia. Last edited by nge staff on 073020 lena baker was the first and only woman to be executed in georgias electric chair. Nearly sixty years after her death, lena baker is not forgotten. Lela bond phillips has written a book about lena baker. Based on true events, the lena baker story recounts one africanamerican womans struggle to rise above the challenges of her life, to face the choices she makes, and. Rent the lena baker story 2008 on dvd and bluray dvd. Stuart baker obituary holland, mi the holland sentinel. As the opening night premiere film for the 2008 atlanta film festival, it sold out. The lena baker story official site the lena baker story is indie film making at its finest, a touching, beautifully acted and directed movie. Lena baker was born june 8, 1900, to a poor black family of sharecroppers and raised near cuthbert, georgia. Rent the lena baker story 2008 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix.
The lena baker story by lela bond phillips, isbn 1930897073, compare new and used books prices among online bookstores. While others would have padded the book with trial transcripts and other. This man would come to her house and get her and nothing they could do until one night it happen. The lena baker story is a prime example of a film that appeals to the moviegoer that wants a story, a genuine masterwork that was made by a filmmaker that truly understands film and storytelling. The lena baker story official movie trailer youtube. The lena baker story movie poster african american. Wow i didnt know that in 1945 a black woman by the name of lena baker was executed in the state of georgia as the story was told lena life was up and down is had a praying mother a good woman that did washing and taking care of littlew white kids back in the day, but lena just had a bad time drinking. The lena baker story by lela bond phillips goodreads. The life story of lena baker, the first and only woman executed in georgia on the electric chair. Based on a true story, recounts the life of lena baker, the first woman in georgia to be executed in the electric chair for killing her boss who abused her and imprisoned her in his home.
Baker was convicted by a jury of white men and became the only woman ever executed by electrocution in georgia. Its the story of one womans attempt to rise above the challenges of life, the choices she makes, and the consequences of those choices. Woman pardoned 60 years after her execution a black maid executed in georgia in 1945 is being granted a pardon by the state for killing a white man she said enslaved her. It is based on a true story and was inspired by dr. The state had disenfranchised blacks since the turn of the century, and imposed legal r. What i done, i did in selfdefense, she said in her final statement. She was executed in 1945, after she was convicted of murdering a man who had imprisoned her. The lena baker story is a 2008 film adaptation of the book by lela bond phillips that chronicles the life and death of lena baker, an africanamerican woman in georgia. Lena is a simple story, and perhaps in my quest to finish thirty books in six weeks, i picked one of woodsons less reputable books. This is the story of the first and only woman to be legally executed in the state of georgias electric chair. The lena baker story was filmed in colquit, georgia by an independent production company and stars tichina arnold. The lena baker is a story of the frist black woman to be executed in the state of georgia in the eletric chair.
A black maid executed in georgia in 1945 is being granted a pardon by the state for killing a white man she said enslaved her. Lena baker had a least four strikes against her when she. Nov, 2018 the josephine baker story the full movie lynn whitfield, david dukes, louis gossett jr. The main reason is that it is a barbaric and outdated way to deal with crime. The untold story of lena baker made into a movie the. It was written for the screen and directed by ralph wilcox. Lena baker for killing a white man who had kidnapped and assaulted her. A chronicle of the life of lena baker, the first woman to be sent to the electric chair in georgia for the murder of her employer, who forced her into sexual slavery. Well i can see why many would not choose to watch this. The lena baker story 2009 a black woman tichina arnold is executed in 1945 georgia following the accidental shooting of her abusive boss peter coyote. It is the story of the first woman sentenced to the electric chair for murdering her boss. Lena baker grave now designated by a simple concrete marker, sits in a far corner of the desolate graveyard behind mt.
The lena baker story will be played during the jokaramicheaux film festival aug. I know it was a story that needed to be told, asserts wilcox. Tichina arnold wild hogs, the cws everybody hates chris plays baker, the first georgia woman sent to the electric chair. The lena baker story, starring tichina arnold, beverly todd and peter coyote, tells the civil rights story of a young, impoverished girl in rural georgia in the early 1900s, who in a desperate. The feature film the lena baker story 2008 chronicles the events surrounding her early life and her execution. Lena baker 1900 1945 find a grave memorial in 1996, author lela bond phillips began investigating the all but forgotten story. Baker was the only woman in georgia to be executed by electrocution. The lena baker story is a 2008 film adaptation of the book by lela bond phillips, which chronicles. The josephine baker story the full movie lynn whitfield. Starring tichina arnold as lena baker who lives with her family in a small town in georgia. Yes you know for being with a white man that she dont want to. Yes you know for being with a white man that she dont want to be with and afraid to say or do anything. The slaying and execution came during a decadeslong period of state suppression of civil rights of black citizens in whitedominated georgia.
Lena baker said she acted in selfdefense, but a jury of white men convicted her after a oneday trial. The lena baker story wikipedia jimmy carter dedicated his 2004 book, sharing good times, to prince, and discusses her in his 2005 book, our endangered values. Lena baker was wrongly convicted in 1944 of the first degree murder of a man in cuthbert, georgia who was accidentally shot with his own gun while he was attempting to rape her. This movie is based in the 1900s during the civil rights. And rumors that she was romantically involved with. The lena baker story takes place in the early 1900s through 1945 in cuthbert, georgia. Wow i didnt know that in 1945 a black woman by the name of lena baker was executed in the state of georgia as the story was told lena life was up and down is had a praying mother a good woman that did washing and taking care of littlew white kids back in the day, but lena just had a bad time drinking in cat houses and jail, but the biggest problem she had did she kill a white man by the name of ernest knight. Lela bond phillips this is the story of the first and only woman to be legally executed in the state of georgias electric chair. With tichina arnold, beverly todd, peter coyote, michael rooker. Lena baker, who had a sixthgrade education, stated publicly her innocence to the very end. It was black history month and i seen this picture hope and redemption. Free shipping get free shipping free 58 day shipping within the u.
Lena baker june 8, 1900 march 5, 1945 was an african american maid in cuthbert, georgia, united states, who was convicted of capital murder of her white employer, ernest knight. Cain and abel, essau and jacob, elijah and elisha, the book of revelation, cassietta lerone baker. The movie the lena baker story 2008 is about her life. As a youth baker worked for a farmer as chopping cotton. Baker was a black woman tried by an all white jury presided over by a white judge and prosecuted by a white prosecutor, with all the prosecution witnesses also white. Boroght this lena baker dvd on the cheap, i decided to purchase as i felt my black history was a little emaciated.
The small picture hanging in the execution chamber of the georgia state prison is a reminder of the persistant question is justice being served. Based on true events, the lena baker story recounts one africanamerican womans struggle to rise above the challenges of her life, to face the choices she makes, and to ultimately triumph over her impossible circumstances. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. African american wrongful convictions throughout history. Based on the true life story of lena baker, the first woman to be sent to the electric chair in georgia for the murder of her employer, who forced her into sexual slavery, the lena baker story takes place in the early 1900s through 1945 in cuthbert, georgia. By the 1940s, baker had picked cotton, cleaned houses and washed clothes to get by.
Lena baker was the first and only woman to be executed in georgias electric chair. She was posthumously pardoned by the state in 2005. As a young girl in the early 1900s lena baker tichina arnold and her mother beverly todd make ends meet by picking. Apr 08, 2008 the lena baker story was written, directed, and produced by ralph wilcox. The lena baker story is a 2008 film adaptation of the book by lela bond phillips, which chronicles the life and death of lena baker, an africanamerican woman in georgia who was convicted in 1945 of capital murder and was the only woman to be executed by electric chair. The lena baker story paperback june 1, 2001 by lela bond phillips author. By octavius combs lena baker born on june 8, 1900 to a poor, black family of sharecroppers and raised near cuthbert, georgia. The lena baker story by lela bond phillips booksamillion. Jans based on the true story of an impoverished and uneducated africanamerican womans struggles in rural 1940s georgia, this wrenching, featurelength docudrama, the lena baker story highlighted by a stellar ensemble cast comes to dvd jan. Apr 23, 2020 stuart lee baker, 92, of holland michigan passed away on april 20, 2020.
Stuart lee baker, 92, of holland michigan passed away on april 20, 2020. In 2005 baker was granted a full and unconditional pardon by the state of georgia, 60 years after her execution. Nearly sixty years after her death, lena baker is not. Vernon baptist church on a country highway outside of cuthbert, georgia. In 1944, baker started working for ernest knight, who had broken his leg. Baker was the only woman to be executed by electrocution in georgia. It is a simple, low budget drama but with big buget story telling. Barnholtz entertainmentlionsgate entertainment is the films distributor. At the time of baker s execution, the georgia prison system was under scrutiny for reform. First of all i am totally against the death penalty under any circumstances.
The lena baker story is a 2008 film adaptation of the book by lela bond phillips, which chronicles the life and death of lena baker. Filmmakers in southern georgia are unearthing a forgotten chapter in black history and revitalizing their local economy with the factbased indie feature the lena baker story. Mar, 2009 the lena baker story was filmed in colquit, georgia by an independent production company and stars tichina arnold. He was born august 10, 1927 to john and lena baker, was senior class president and graduated from holland high. Lena baker had a least four strikes against her when she was born at the turn of the century in randolph county, georgia. It wasnt until forty years later and after having three. Lena baker was an african american maid in cuthbert, georgia, united states, who was convicted of capital murder of her white employer, ernest knight.
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