The History Of Lena Baker

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History Lena Baker was born on June 8, 1901 in Randolph County, Georgia in a former slave cabin. She was born from poor sharecroppers her mother name Queenie. Baker was a black woman growing up in the 1940’s which was in the heart of the racial era. She chopped cotton, laundry. Like all the other kids Baker had dreams of becoming better and living a better life getting out of poverty. Baker sang in the church choir and was a good singer. At the age of 20 baker and a friend discover a way how make money by running a lewd house. Baker and her friend were doing well with making the money. The County Sheriff got wind of this and locks up baker and her friend for illegally running this lewd house for gentlemen and interracial relationships was illegal. Baker was sent to a workhouse for several months she was chained to men at this workhouse which was located in Milledgeville, Georgia. Baker had three children by the time she was in her forties. Baker move in with her mother after her tour of run in with the law. Baker became an alcoholic after the people in her community talked and look down on her. Baker also helped her mother clean and did other types of maid services. Randolph County is the 75th county of Georgia. The first pecan tree was brought to the county from Texas. Randolph is also the home to Andrew College which was a private Methodist college that was second in the Nation to grant degrees to women (Phillips) (Phillips B. L., 2005). Events leading to Conviction Lena Baker was convicted of murdering a white man Ernest Knight which was the owner of a local gristmill. Ernest also was viewed as an abusive man. Baker was hired by Ernest knight son Eugene to take care of his father while he was hurt from a broken leg. Baker would have to clean iron and cook for Ernest knight. This is where Baker life took a turn for the worst. Baker reported to work for

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