Picking Cotton: Our Memoir Of Injustice And Redemption

Content warning: The guide contains discussions of rape, sexual assault, and racism that appear in the source text.

When she was 22, a strange man broke into Jennifer's apartment and raped her. Eleven days later, she picked Ronald Cotton out of a lineup and named him as her attacker. The aftermath of the rape led to the dissolution of her long-term relationship with her boyfriend, Paul. Until Ronald was convicted—receiving a life sentence—Jennifer lived in a state of fear, anxiety, and shame. She turned briefly to drugs in order to numb her feelings.

After Ronald was imprisoned, Jennifer returned to a normal life, married a man named Vinny, and had triplets. When DNA testing proved that she identified the wrong man, Jennifer was afraid all over again. She worried that Ronald wanted revenge on her. Eventually, she felt compelled to meet him, and they became friends.

Her character arc is one of working through Victimization, Shame, and Guilt. Knowing she is not to blame for her rape and receiving forgiveness from Ronald helps her achieve a measure of well-being. Through Ronald’s friendship and forgiveness, Jennifer forgives herself for her mistake and can finally move forward from her traumatic experience.