The Exonerated by Erik Jensen

by Jessica Blank

What effect does it have on a person--a soul, a life--to have freedom and self-respect stripped away and then, ostensibly, returned years later after decades of incarceration? The Exonerated attempts to answer this question through the words of six innocent men and women who, after years in jail, emerged from death row to try to reclaim what was left of their lives.Among them are Sunny Jacobs, a mother of two whose unwavering belief during sixteen years in jail that she would be released (despite the execution of her husband, who was also innocent, for the same crime) allowed her to dedicate herself to being a "living memorial" when she was freed. There is Kerry Max Cook, a Texan who was convicted of murdering a young woman even though she was found with another man's hair grasped in her fist--a man whom "Texas killed a thousand times, and just keeps on doing it" in his nightmares. And there is Delbert Tibbs, a black Chicago poet who speaks of his years on death row with anger and bitterness, yet also, as he says, "still sings." All their stories have been compiled and edited by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen into The Exonerated, a play that is both a riveting work of theater and an exploration of the dark side of the American criminal justice system.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama, Nonfiction, School, Race, Read For School

Paperback

First published December 15, 2003

Reviews

[Glynn Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was cast in this show while attending the University of Southern Indiana. I was cast as the character; David. The young man that was convicted at the age 18. This is a very powerful play that share the lives of six people that was wrongly accussed. I recommend reading and going to see this show.
Telling the story of these people was very difficult; because I became one with this character and all the emotions erupted from me. I never knew I could cry on spot; I wanted the audience to feel this man's pain and sorrow. I wanted each person to be thankful for the lives that they live.
Once, he was free; he still felt apart of the prison life.

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to stay with me. As it should.

[Kate Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic play. It shocked and touched me and made me realise how lucky I am to live in a country where death penalty is not an option and how important it is to do everything in my power to make sure it stays that way.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

If for no other reason than this, should the death penalty be eliminated. The writers of this play interviewed (in person and by phone) 60 (SIXTY!) people who had been on death row - all of whom were found innocent.

David…”is continually engaged in a battle between resignation and hope.”

What kind of system do we have when the police and defense attorneys are looked upon more favorably for bringing in someone that didn’t do it than rather than no one at all?

One of the characters says #NotAllWhitePeople - but if you’re not doing anything to fix the problem, you may as well be lumped in with everyone else.

“You know, when you’re in prison, you can’t allow yourself to feel too much. So when you get out, you’ve gotta practice. I had to practice a bunch to be human again.”

Good, god! Our justice system is broken.

But let’s end on a humorous quote:

“…’cause you know, I was very conservative…and also very stupid.”

[Peyton Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short read, but definitely worth it. My only disappointment was that I wanted to know more! I would love to see this play! I would love to read a novel about these individuals in more depth! Their stories were heartbreaking but are worth being told!

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

After that, the main adjustment was just learning to feel again. You know, when you're in prison, you can't allow yourself to feel too much. So when you get out, you've gotta practice. I had to practice a bunch to be human again. To remind me.

[Elsof · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, soulful, tragic play about people who were on death row, what they did(n't) do to get there, and what they live with now.

[Myna Sowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great (but horrific) stories. Could read boring but I loved it.

[Sandra Kimmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful, moving, shocking, sad, with some humor mixed in. A close-up look at how our penal system often fails those in its grasp.

[Seána Johansson-Keys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for my drama studies - I was thinking of doing a monologue from it but none of the monologues stood out to me. However, as a whole the play was haunting and eye opening. Its quick pace felt very smooth and the stories worked well together in the sense that the sudden switch in narrative was not jarring or confusing. I can't say it's the best play I've ever read but I definitely would recommend it, 3 stars.

[Gabrielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The more testimonial plays I read, the less I like them. I think there's a reason drama was developed in the history of civilization. If there wasn't a demand for it, we would all watch Court TV and go exclusively to trials for our entertainment.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on true events, interesting to read the stories about corruption, racism, poor investigations, that put these people on death row, one for 22 years, when they were not even guilty of the crime they were convicted for!

[Gabrielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Play #2 of the 1-per-week marathon. It has some good monologues, but I didn't like it overall. It is about the prison system and the likelihood of minorities being convicted wrongly.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, you must read Living Justice though right afterwards, it is the book about the writing of the play.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in my political theater class and then I drove all the way up to Logan in one of the worst snow storms I'd ever experienced to see it performed. Worth it.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for a homework assignment.

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discusses the issues of the American justice system.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic though I imagine it's way better staged. Was hard to keep everyone straight, character wise.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read, thoroughly enjoyed this play.

[Lewis Weinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful stories; I saw the play in NYC. This was also research for my novel A GOOD CONVICTION.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harrowing and tender in turns, a verbatim play done really right. A play that will not soon leave you.