Racial Differences In To Kill A Mockingbird

Words: 711
Pages: 3
Open Document
The twentieth century is known as a period in America where racial segregation was at its peak. Often, it was the African American population who suffered the most from such problems, ranging from divided schools, restaurants etc. to discrimination in the court of law. During this time period, several attempts were made in order to remove this inequity from American society, including protests, rallies, and speeches. Eventually, by the 1960’s it was made make clear to the general public that there were serious issues pertaining to this minority population. In the novels To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Death of Innocence by Mamie Till-Mobley, two main characters share a struggle in regards to the racial indifference that comes with the …show more content…
Often, their skin color was the only evidence a jury needed to determine a verdict, usually resulting in “open-and-shut” cases. Even knowing this, both characters diligently defended their clients, ignoring the backlash that would emerge from doing so. Atticus, for example, stood against most of the town in Tom Robinson’s trial. Multiple white witnesses testified against Tom during the trial (A white man’s statement held more influence than vice versa), yet Atticus demonstrated his innocence, even if he knew the outcome. Mamie in comparison, attended her son’s trial while she continued to give speeches and promote her son. She chose to stand up in front of her son’s killers when she knew hostility would result from doing so (with her life possibly in danger), and that required courage. Both characters were aware that their actions would have little effect in their time periods, but their boldness allowed them to be able to do so in the first place and create a foundation for civil rights in the …show more content…
An example of this can be reputation, where Atticus and Mamie Till both had suffered tarnished reputations. Atticus defending Tom Robinson in the first place did not sit well with a large portion of Maycomb’s residents. Rumors spread, and soon enough the Finch family was under scrutiny for Atticus’ defense. A point was reached where Atticus’s daughter Scout encountered a schoolmate who criticized her saying “…that Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers.” (Lee 74). A similar case can be said for Emmet Till. Emmet’s mother continuously went out of her way to bring meaning to his life. She would not let him become a memory and wanted people to know him as a person - not a “statistic”. In doing so, she was risking her reputation for being outspoken about the murder, given that it was not common for an African American to speak publicly about such a sensitive topic. These actions from both characters truly emphasized their courageous personalities and how they implemented it in order to help
Show More

Related Documents: Racial Differences In To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird Letter

must include To Kill A Mockingbird in the 9th grade level English class because the book teaches people a lot of life lessons. In the book, there is a huge use of the “n” word. While critics may argue that the “n” word is not something children should be around, however, this argument is incorrect because in today’s society a lot of songs out there that children are listening to have that word in it all the time, and since they hear it all the time it doesn’t make a difference that the book states…

Words 688 - Pages 3

Scosburo 9 To Kill A Mockingbird

idea of equality in the legal system in churches and schools. But in the 1930s, they were so opposed to that idea that they would kill an innocent man based on his skin. The Scosburo 9 case is a good example. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, there is the tale of Tom Roberson. It is an unfair case based on someone's skin color. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the 1930s had problems treating people of different races. It is illustrated…

Words 1068 - Pages 5

Theme Of Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s enduring and well-respected novel To Kill a Mockingbird uncovers the malicious social entities of prejudice, racism and power within Southern America during the 1930s. But why are we, Australians today, still finding relevance in the issues exposed in this novel? The 1930s was the prime time for discrimination and white supremacy worldwide. Southern Alabama was a place where water fountains labelled “coloured” didn’t burst with colourful water as a naive child would imagine, but instead…

Words 887 - Pages 4

How Does Lee Use Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

Prejudice is the irrational suspicion and hatred of a social group, usually towards race. Evidently, the social hierarchy upon which we build society promotes hate and injustice. In Harper Lee’s depression era novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she illustrates the different types of mindsets of the southern people of Maycomb County, Alabama. In the early 1930’s, unemployment and poverty were spreading quickly during the years of the Depression and the quality of living had dropped substantially. Maycomb…

Words 1437 - Pages 6

TKAM research paper

To Kill A Mockingbird: How Could You Judge Someone Before You Even Knew Them? Part I- Research There are many stereotypes given to all kinds of races. Blacks are constantly targeted and judged on just what one expects of who they are. “Negroes (“Niggers”) are said to be stupid, promiscuous, and happy.” (Lhamon). Not all racial stereotypes are negative. Even when they are positive, however, it leads to expectations that the targeted person may not be able to live up to. It can put a lot of social…

Words 1521 - Pages 7

Essay on To Kill a Mockingbird Prejudice

To Kill a Mockingbird Practice Essay How does Harper Lee convey the difficulties in overcoming prejudice in her novel? Harper Lee wrote the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird during the 1930s, a time of immense racial and class prejudice towards coloured people. Throughout the novel Harper Lee demonstrates many difficulties that coloured and white people had to overcome when confronted with prejudice. Another prejudice explored by the novel is that against those who simply do not conform to society’s…

Words 1453 - Pages 6

Hypocrisy In To Kill A Mockingbird

In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there were many references to major institutions, one of which was church. Church was very different between Blacks and Whites during the 1960s. Even though many Black and Whites both worshiped the same God, no one could get past their racist views in order to worship in the same church. Though not every White person was racist against Blacks, racism was rampant among the White population, and became one of the main topics of conversation and controversy in…

Words 602 - Pages 3

Hoopla: To Kill a Mockingbird and Black Man Essay

To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee Novel This text made me realise how bad social and racial prejudice used to be and how far we as human beings have come since the 1930’s where harper lees’ novel To Kill a Mockingbird is set. The Author uses many different aspects to show how horrible this prejudice was. She uses Symbolism, Character and setting successfully in my popinion to give myself a greater understanding of the important idea that social and racial prejudice is bad. In the novel a black…

Words 808 - Pages 4

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

Audrey Barclay Ms. Henke English II 12 March 2014 Racism Then and Now In the book To Kill a Mockingbird many examples of extreme racism occur which can be compared to the racism still happening in the twenty-first century. People may think racism has improved over the years, but in reality we’ve just become better at covering it up. Racism is beginning to get better, although, some people have grown up with the norm and begin stereotyping before they even have the chance to think to themselves…

Words 823 - Pages 4

Tom Robinson Case

was used by Harper Lee as a storyline to write To Kill…

Words 1770 - Pages 8