In the novel, A Lesson Before Dying, discrimination is a major predicament throughout and the story takes place during a particularly racial time period, but is there an even greater problem that the two men are faced with? Grant and Jefferson are black men in the era of a racist society; but they have struggles with an even greater dilemma, obligation and commitment. The two guys have obligations to their families and to the town they are part of. Though the town may not be equally fair among the races, it is a very strong community. Grant and Jefferson live in a town where everyone knows everyone and they all take care of each other.
"Living and teaching on a plantation, you got to know the occupants of every house, and you knew who was home and who was not. I could look at the smoke rising from each chimney or I could look at the rusted tin roof of each house, and I could tell the lives that went on in each one of them." [pp. 37-38] By Grant's words it can be determined that this is a community that is very devoted to one another. It is a little bit harder for Jefferson to remember his commitment to his "nannan" and to the town. Jefferson is charged with a crime he did not commit and does not know how to deal with it. The people are asking a lot from a man who knows he is going to die shortly. "Me, Mr. Wiggins. Me. Me to take the cross. Your cross, nannan's cross, my own cross. Me, Mr. Wiggins. This old stumbling nigger. Y'all axe a lot, Mr. Wiggins." [p. 224] It takes a strong man to forget about yourself and do something for someone else when your in the position that Jefferson is in. It took a while; but Jefferson did what had to be done, in the end. .
If someone calls someone a hog it means that they are no greater than an animal that has not qualities. Jefferson is called a hog and it is to imply that he is nowhere equal to being a real man. Grant's task and obligation throughout this is to affirm that Jefferson is not a hog, but a man.