picking cotton: our memoir of injustice and redemption

PICKING COTTON: Our Memoir of Injustice and RedemptionPresented by Professor LaLinda Street

Written By:*JenniferThompson-Cannino*Ronald Cotton*Erin Torneo

Jennifer ThompsonJennifer Thompson-Cannino lives with her family in North Carolina. She is a member of the North Carolina Actual Innocence Commission and is a member of the advisory committee for Active Voices.

Ronald Cotton

Ronald Cotton lives in North Carolina and is a public speaker. He travels to different schools across the country telling his story.

Erin Torneo lives in Connecticut. She has co-written two books: Picking Cotton and The Bridal Wave.

Erin Torneo served basically as an editor of this memoir

A Story of Recovery and Forgiveness This is a novel of a woman passion and determination to find justice for a heinous and stocking crime she endured at the age of twenty-two, while attending Elon University. The novel will take the readers on a journey of discovering the truth, the power of faith and the beauty of forgiveness.

Overview In July 1984, Jennifer was raped when someone

broke into her apartment in the middle of the night after having a composite image drawn, Ronald Cotton was identified as a suspect. Jennifer chose Ronald's picture out of a photograph lineup and a few days later also chose him in a physical line-up.

Novel Point of ViewThe novel is written in split first person, whereby both characters are presenting their unique point of view of emotions, perspectives and knowledge of events.

Major Themes of the Novel Redemption InjusticePatienceJudicial ReformForgivenessFriendship

Jennifer Writing StyleJennifer often uses rhetorical questioning. The purpose behind this strategy is to give the reader a view of her internal monologue.

Example of Jennifer Rhetorical Questioning"The monster had my name but did he have a family? Was I the first woman he had done this to?“

"I knew what I'd seen. I would never forget that face. How could I?"

Ronald CottonWriting StyleRonald often uses metaphors to describe his experiences. The purpose behind this strategy is to exaggerates reality in order to show his true attitude.

Example of Ronald’s Metaphor Usage"The weight of the world was on me, sucking me down into a darkness I didn't think I could swim out of.“

Novel CredibilityThroughout the entire book, both Jennifer and Ronald insert personal letters they had written and interviews they had experienced. The purpose in these inserts is to add credibility to the book