"The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row" is a memoir written by Anthony Ray Hinton, who spent almost 30 years on death row in Alabama for crimes he did not commit. While the book primarily focuses on Hinton's wrongful incarceration and his journey to exoneration, the role of race plays a significant and pervasive theme throughout the narrative.
Race is a central element in Hinton's story because he is an African American man who was wrongfully convicted in a racially charged environment. His experiences and the injustices he faced are deeply intertwined with systemic racism and prejudice in the criminal justice system. Hinton's race likely played a role in his initial arrest, wrongful conviction, and the difficulties he faced in trying to prove his innocence.
Throughout the book, Hinton reflects on the racial bias that permeated his case, the discriminatory practices within the criminal justice system, and the impact of race on his interactions with law enforcement, the courts, and prison officials. His story serves as a powerful testament to the enduring racial inequalities and injustices faced by African Americans within the American criminal justice system. Hinton's eventual release and his advocacy for criminal justice reform underscore the importance of addressing issues of race, bias, and inequality within the legal system.