Racial Issues In To Kill A Mockingbird

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“Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.” Abraham Joshua Heschel. Racism is a big part of our history and in the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” it is a bigger problem than ever. Set in Maycomb County, Alabama in the early 1930s, racism and discrimination are not a new thing. In the book the author, Harper Lee, uses many controversial issues such as racism, discrimination, and social class to create conflicts within the book. While also conveying important messages and showing the reader the different views of the citizens of Maycomb County. Harper Lee uses racism to create many different conflicts and disagreements throughout the book. There are conflicts such as Tom going into court against the Ewells, Bob Ewell trying to kill Jem and Scout, and Atticus facing internal arguments about the trials and tribulations that come with defending a black man in court. A quote said by Atticus states, “/she was white, and she tempted a negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man. Not an old uncle, but a …show more content…
The town of Maycomb is shocked and disgusted when finding out Atticus Finch is defending a black man in court, and with that comes loads of name calling and harassment. One instance is the night Atticus goes to guard Tom’s jail cell, trying to keep out mobs who want to kill him. The mob comes up to Atticus and tells him to move away from the cell and Atticus doesn’t move a hair. Eventually Scout and Jem come to help ward off the ruthless townspeople. During the whole trial Scout is often taunted by the kids at school and by the adults in her neighborhood. A quote from Mrs. Dubose states, “Your fathers no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” (Lee 117). Language like this is not uncommon in the book and opinions like that are also expressed

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