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. This is the story of the first and only woman to be legally executed in the state of georgias electric chair. 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. 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. Lena baker had a least four strikes against her when she was born at the turn of the century in randolph county, georgia. The untold story of lena baker made into a movie the. Its the story of one womans attempt to rise above the challenges of life, the choices she makes, and the consequences of. The lena baker story by lela bond phillips, isbn 1930897073, compare new and used books prices among online bookstores. It is the story of the first woman sentenced to the electric chair for murdering her boss.
The son of bertha and william baker, lenny graduated from brookline high school in brookline, massachusetts in 1962 and attended boston university, where he received his bachelors degree. Film dramatizes true story of southern injustice the lena. By the 1940s, baker had picked cotton, cleaned houses and washed clothes. The film the lena baker story, produced by colquitt, ga. Lena by jacqueline woodson meet your next favorite book.
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. Rent the lena baker story 2008 starring tichina arnold and beverly todd on dvd and bluray. This man would come to her house and get her and nothing they could do until one night it happen. Baker was the only woman to be executed by electrocution in georgia. At the time of baker s execution, the georgia prison system was under scrutiny for reform. Actor leonard joel lenny baker was born on january 17, 1945 in boston, massachusetts.
The main reason is that it is a barbaric and outdated way to deal with crime. She was posthumously pardoned by the state in 2005. 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 lena baker story official movie trailer duration. The slaying and execution came during a decadeslong period of state. The gossip columnist who ruined dozens of hollywood careers duration. 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. 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 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. Tichina arnold wild hogs, the cws everybody hates chris plays baker, the first georgia woman sent to the electric chair. Boroght this lena baker dvd on the cheap, i decided to purchase as i felt my black history was a little emaciated. Baker was convicted by a jury of white men and became the only woman ever executed by electrocution in georgia. Lela bond phillips is the author of the lena baker story 4. The lena baker story official site the lena baker story is indie film making at its finest, a touching, beautifully acted and directed movie.
It is based on a true story and was inspired by dr. The lena baker story has been added to your cart add to cart. 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. 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. The lena baker story is a 2008 film adaptation of the book by lela bond phillips, which chronicles. 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. Mar, 2009 the lena baker story was filmed in colquit, georgia by an independent production company and stars tichina arnold. 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. Lena baker said she acted in selfdefense, but a jury of white men convicted her after a oneday trial. Pardon for maid executed in 1945 world news the guardian. It was black history month and i seen this picture hope and redemption. The lena baker story by lela bond phillips 20010601. The tearful tale of lena baker north dallas gazette. A black maid who was executed in 1945 for killing the white man she claimed had held her in slavery and threatened her life is to receive a pardon from the state of georgia.
The lena baker story by ralph wilcox is more than a biopic about an africanamerican woman who, like so many others, was a victim of the racism of the american justice system, but it is also a harsh reminder that although there may be a black president, america still has a terrible legacy of racism to overcome the film chronicles the life. It is a simple, low budget drama but with big buget story telling. The lena baker story was filmed in colquit, georgia by an independent production company and stars tichina arnold. Well i can see why many would not choose to watch this. 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. Free shipping get free shipping free 58 day shipping within the u. The lena baker is a story of the frist black woman to be executed in the state of georgia in the eletric chair. Lela bond phillips, the true story now unfolds on the big screen with hollywood actors like. 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. The feature film the lena baker story 2008 chronicles the events surrounding her early life and her execution. Nov, 2018 the josephine baker story the full movie lynn whitfield, david dukes, louis gossett jr. The movie the lena baker story 2008 is about her life.
The life story of lena baker, the first and only woman executed in georgia on the electric chair. The small picture hanging in the execution chamber of the georgia state prison is a reminder of the persistant question is justice being served. Rent the lena baker story 2008 on dvd and bluray dvd. By the 1940s, baker had picked cotton, cleaned houses and washed clothes to get by. 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.
Cain and abel, essau and jacob, elijah and elisha, the book of revelation, cassietta lerone baker. In 1944, baker started working for ernest knight, who had broken his leg. Her family moved to the county seat when she was a child. 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. I kept saying what is the lena baker story so i kept watching the movie it touch my heart i felt so sad for the rest of the day. And rumors that she was romantically involved with. Lena is about a young girl who takes her sister and trecks across the country to get away from an abusive father, but. Most may remember her as martin lawrences nemesis on the tv comedy martin, and as chris rocks mom on everybody hates chris. 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. 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. Lena baker was born june 8, 1900, to a poor black family of sharecroppers and raised near cuthbert, georgia. Vernon baptist church on a country highway outside of cuthbert, georgia.
African american wrongful convictions throughout history. Its the story of one womans attempt to rise above the challenges of life, the choices she makes, and the consequences of those choices. The lena baker story by lela bond phillips 20010601 on. Tichina arnold everybody hates chris, martin will be starring in an independent film entitled the lena baker story about the first and only georgia woman to be sent to the electric chair. It was written for the screen and directed by ralph wilcox. The josephine baker story the full movie lynn whitfield. A biography was published about baker in 2001, and it was adapted for the feature film the lena baker story 2008, chronicling the events of her life, trial, and execution. First of all i am totally against the death penalty under any circumstances. Baker began his acting career in regional theater and spent several. The lena baker story movie poster african american. Lela bond phillips has written a book about lena baker.
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. By octavius combs lena baker born on june 8, 1900 to a poor, black family of sharecroppers and raised near cuthbert, georgia. Starring tichina arnold as lena baker who lives with her family in a small town in georgia. Lena baker for killing a white man who had kidnapped and assaulted her. Baker was the only woman in georgia to be executed by electrocution. Lena baker, who had a sixthgrade education, stated publicly her innocence to the very end.
Lela bond phillips this is the story of the first and only woman to be legally executed in the state of georgias. It wasnt until forty years later and after having three. Yes you know for being with a white man that she dont want to be with and afraid to say or do anything. 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 forgotten. 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. While others would have padded the book with trial transcripts and other. The lena baker story by lela bond phillips booksamillion. 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. Nearly sixty years after her death, lena baker is not. Lela bond phillips this is the story of the first and only woman to be legally executed in the state of georgias electric chair. Almost sixty years after her tragic death, i knew her story cried out to be told and i was going to tell it.
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. 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. 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. 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. Overall, the lena barker story is a provocative film, released on dvd in january, that answers some questions and creates others about the woman lena baker as well as countless other black women steeped in southern poverty during the first half of the twentieth century.
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. I know it was a story that needed to be told, asserts 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. She was executed in 1945, after she was convicted of murdering a man who had imprisoned her. At the time of bakers execution, the georgia prison system was under scrutiny for reform.