Do you see any resemblances between modern day American false confessions and Tituba’s? As you consider that question, think carefully about evidence. What is special about what we say about ourselves — our first-person accounts — as a matter of evidence?

Douglas Starr, “The Interview,” The New Yorker Dec 2013

(PDF  Download PDF) https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/12/09/the-interview-7 (Links to an external site.)

The Innocence Project: https://www.innocenceproject.org/dna-exonerations-in-the-united-states/(Links to an external site.)

Guiding questions:

• Summarize the article about false confessions for your classmates. On its basis, tell us: How can it be that people falsely confess — when there are dire consequences — rather than telling the truth?
• Do you see any resemblances between modern day American false confessions and Tituba’s?
• As you consider that question, think carefully about evidence. What is special about what we say about ourselves — our first-person accounts — as a matter of evidence?
•  When we lie in our first-person accounts, do we lie to ourselves, as well? Do we deserve what we get?