Picking Cotton: Our Memoir Of Injustice And Redemption

Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption, is a 2009 memoir written by Ronald Cotton and Jennifer Thompson-Cannino. The co-authors share a unique relationship. When she was 22, Jennifer mistakenly identified Ronald as the man who raped her in her apartment. He would be wrongfully convicted and spend 11 years in prison before being exonerated by DNA testing. Together, they tell their story, which is underscored by themes of racism, the burden of proof, freedom, and forgiveness.

The book is written in three first-person parts. After a brief introduction in which Jennifer reveals that she will go on to be responsible for Ronald’s unjust incarceration, she recounts the night of the rape, the police investigation and lineup, Ronald’s trial, and his conviction. Part 1 ends with Ronald going to prison and Jennifer praying that he will both burn in hell and experience rape while he is incarcerated. She alternates between venomous rage, extreme shame and guilt, and helplessness.

Part 2 is written by Ronald. He describes his background and youth briefly before giving his account of the night he was accused of Jennifer’s rape. As a black man in the south, he knew he was innocent but had little hope of convincing anyone. He goes to the police station to clear his name. Instead, he will not have his freedom for 11 years. Much of Part 2 details Ronald’s experience in various prisons. He has to fight to survive and he struggles frequently with his rage at the injustice of his situation. Ronald eventually commits to being peaceful and in maintaining his humanity at all costs. After a DNA test proves that he was never in Jennifer’s apartment, he is released, which concludes Part 2.

Part 3 is written by both Ronald and Jennifer, in alternating points of view that change with each chapter. Ronald’s account of his life after prison is about struggling to find work, to become independent, and in not knowing exactly what to do with himself. He meets a woman named Robbin, whom he marries and has a daughter with. Jennifer’s experience after Ronald’s release is very different: she is consumed with guilt over her mistake and fears that Ronald may take revenge on her or her family.

The primary focus of Part 3 is the unlikely friendship that grows between them. On a media appearance on Larry King Live, Ronald says that he would like to hear from Jennifer, in her own words. They eventually meet and grow fond of each other. Ronald forgives Jennifer and feels no anger for her, which allows her to begin forgiving herself. Eventually they begin speaking in tandem at activist events and even travel together. As the book concludes, Jennifer tells him that she is glad she picked him, and he says he understands.

Picking Cotton is an indictment of the often-haphazard nature of eyewitness testimony, the poisonous effects that racism can have on law enforcement and trials, and a celebration of the power of forgiveness. It is highly recommended for students of criminal justice, fans of memoir, and anyone interested in the issues of racism, compassion, and unburdening one’s self of past traumas.