Photos recreate last meal of death row in the US
Last Meal Requested by Clydell Coleman, Executed May 5, 1999
To gain a deeper understanding of the death penalty system in the United States, photographer Jackie Black recreated the last meals ordered, before being executed, by prisoners on death row.
"What is it like to order one last meal before being executed for a crime that you may or may not have committed?" asks the American photographer in a statement about the project.
"If we can stand before that meal, maybe we can feel part of the experience. Maybe we can question our own motives and complicity with the justice system. Maybe we can empathize with the convicted person."
Black also gathered basic information about the prisoners, including how long they studied, occupation and last declaration.
The photographer says he tried to capture the psychological strength of the last meal
Execution: May 13, 1997
Education: Eight years
Occupation: worker
Last statement: "I want you to know that I didn't kill anyone. I love you all."
Thomas Andy Barefoot
Execution: October 30, 1984
Education: Not listed
Occupation: Oilfield manual work
Last statement: "I hope that one day we can look back and see the evil we are doing now, like the witches we burned at the stake. I want everyone to know that I have nothing against them. I forgive them all. I hope they all do. whoever did something forgive me.
I have been praying all day for the wife (of the victim) to take the bitterness out of her heart, because that bitterness that is in her heart will surely send her to hell like any other sin. I'm sorry for everything I've ever done to anyone. I hope you forgive me."
James Russell
Execution: September 19, 1991
Education: 10 years
Occupation: Musician
Last statement: Three-minute report, which was not transcribed or recorded.
Jeffrey Allen Barney
Execution: April 16, 1986
Education: Not listed
Occupation: Not listed
Last statement : "I'm sorry for what I did. I deserve it. Jesus forgive me."
Johnny Frank Garrett
Execution: February 11, 1992
Education: seven years
Occupation: worker
Last statement: "I would like to thank my family for loving and caring for me. And the rest of the world can kiss my ass."
William Prince Davis
Execution: September 14, 1999
Education: seven years
Occupation: Roof Builder
Last statement : "I would like to tell the family how much I really feel in my soul and in my heart for the pain and misery I caused by my actions... I would like to thank all the men on death row who showed me love over the years.
I hope that by donating my body to science, some parts of it can be used to help someone..."
Gerald Lee Mitchell
Execution: October 22, 2001
Education: 10 years
Occupation: Carpenter
Last statement: "I'm sorry for the pain. I'm sorry for the life I took from you. I'm asking God for forgiveness. And I'm asking him the same. I know it can be difficult. But I'm sorry for what I did.
To my family: I love each one of you. Be strong. Know that my love is always with you, always. I know I'm going home to be with the Lord. Shed tears of happiness for me."
Robert Anthony Madden
Translation: He asked that his last meal be delivered to a homeless person (the request was denied).
Execution: May 28, 1997
Education: 12 years
Occupation: Cook
Last statement: "I apologize for your loss and your pain. But I didn't kill these people. Hopefully, we'll all learn something about ourselves and others. And we'll learn to break the cycle of hate and revenge and come to appreciate what we really are is happening in this world. I forgive everyone for this process, which seems to be wrong."
James Beathard
Execution: December 9, 1999
Education: 15 years
Occupation : Motorcycle mechanic
After his trial, the main prosecution witness withdrew his testimony and three members of the parole board recommended clemency.
Last statement: "I want to start by acknowledging the love I've had in my family. No man in this world has had a better family than me. I've had the best parents in the world. I've had the most wonderful life any man could have had. more proud of someone than I am of my daughter and my son.
There are a few things I would like to talk about, as this is one of the few times people will listen to what I have to say. Now the United States has reached a point where there is zero respect for human life. My death is just a symptom of a greater illness. At some point, the government needs to wake up and stop doing things to destroy other countries and kill innocent children. The embargo and sanctions underway against places like Iran and Iraq, Cuba and others, they are doing nothing to change the world and they are hurting innocent children.
Perhaps most important in many ways is what we're doing with the environment, it's even more devastating because as long as we continue in the direction we're going, the end result is that it doesn't matter how we treat other people, because everyone on the planet will be exit.
One of the few ways in the world the truth is going to get out, or people are going to know what's going on, is if we support a free press out there. I see the press struggling to maintain itself as a free institution."
The Last Meals exhibition is available at the Parrish Art Museum in New York until January 31, 2021.
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