Native Son

In the last book of Native Son, Bigger goes to trial with Max as his lawyer.  Max does not give the judge excuses for Bigger's actions but tries to get the judge to see through Bigger's eyes.  Max states that Bigger has never met someone of the white race that has been kind to Bigger, so when he met the Dalton's he was entirely confused.  Then, when Bigger and Mary met, Bigger thought Mary was making fun of him through her kind gestures.  While in the room together Bigger did the most instinctive thing he could do, which was to not get in trouble.  Of course doing that included accidentally killing Mary, and that is why he is in the court at that very moment.  However, no matter what kind of plea is given for Bigger, the judge's decision will always be biased due to the racial standards at that time.  Sadly or not sadly, Bigger is commended to the death penalty, despite Max's defense.