Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird to describe her life experiences through the great depression. In the book she connects the Jim Crow laws with mob mentality, and racism. The connection to America’s history is how Jim Crow is used in the novel. Jim Crow was a set of laws to ensure that whites were superior to blacks. Some people thought the laws were needed because the whites thought the blacks were going to take their jobs.
For example, the communications between characters in “To Kill A Mockingbird”, such as those with racial differences, represent the disrespect that each character has for one another; this is shown through the use of inappropriate language and actions. Another reason why this is a Southern Gothic novel is that many of the characters, such as the protagonist, are forced to confront the town’s deep-seated racism. For instance, the dialogue of one of the community members illustrates the predominant injustice exhibited throughout the town. Ms.Dubose states, “ Your father is no better than the African Americans and trash he works for!” (Lee 135). Overall, this shows that the book’s gothic perspective is continually upheld by the community actions.
(SS) King speaks of the attacks, “...unspeakable horrors of police brutality,” the black community encountered for having a different skin tone. (SS) Since the white community did not see the Blacks as equals, they did not think they were hurting a worthy human being. (com) King also addresses the “... negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one,” as something the whole black community had to face on a regular basis. (SS) The black community was forced to receive social restraints on their lives, causing severe inequality by taking away the free will to live anywhere they wanted. (SS) This image is a powerful, real life illustration of the extreme segregation of that time.
Destruction, poverty, and violence are just a few examples of discrimination that the Black community had to go through during the 1960-1980’s , and are all similar issues portrayed in the films “Black Power Mixtape” and “Do The Right Thing”. Both films have their own story, but both reflect on the racial injustice Black citizens faced, while also educating viewers on the violence that occurred during that time through riots, and police brutality. Each film comments on African American experiences of racial injustice by telling a story of pride and power, while also demonstrating destruction, brutality, and violence throughout the Black community. The famous film directed by Spike Lee “Do The Right Thing”, focuses on racially diverse individuals who live and work in a lower class neighborhood in Brooklyn,
And the rumors about the Wallace boys burning black men, which started boycotts and fightings across town. In “Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry”, by Mildred D. Taylor, use descriptive metaphor, detailed imagery, and expository simile to convey the idea that even though some people have different preferences of others on the wealthy white people, people should see people as the same human being because people can feel segregated from the others and racial injustices that cause trouble. First, Taylor uses descriptive metaphor to illustrate the idea that African American are not treated equally as the other human being while feeling the segregation against their race. Cassie, Stacy, Christopher-John and Little man (Clayton Chester) goes to school while Cassie disapproves her outfit, so she “tugged again at my collar and dragged my feet in the dust, allowing it to sift back onto my socks and shoes like gritty red snow” (Taylor 3). This literary device
Social injustice is one of the most prevalent themes that occurred in Harper Lee’s To kill a mockingbird. Her writing exposes some of the things that were occurring in our culture in the south during the mid nineteen hundreds in the American south. Social injustice referred to the unfair treatment of people of color, and those who did not have money or education. These things were not just part of the novel, they actually happened in real life and were not just made up fantasies by Lee. Before I get into what the main focus of the essay is about, I must introduce and elaborate on what exactly I will be referring to during this paper.
They are provided insufficient space, freedom and are shown little esteem. Their roles are determined by the whites dominated society. However, some of them strive to break away from stereotypical whites controlled structure of the society. They attempt to assert their personal identity and show that they are equal to whites in numerous respects. Richard Wright and Toni Morrison have portrayed in their novels characters as oppressed which they are suffering from the real injustice in American society.
Now in real life, people who believe idea of racism by skin color are less than before. However, some people still have that idea in their mind. In this novel, not everyone but some people have racist idea and they thought black people are bad. Some characters are disagreeing to take the case of Tom Robinson, because Tom is Negro man. However, Atticus has responsibility to take care and defend Tom Robinson as a lawyer.
Theories of Inequality in Race In this lesson, Zach explains the theories of prejudice which happens in society. He explains and dissects the four different types of prejudice. One of the four prejudice is the scapegoat theory which is when a horrible event occurs and then blame someone unfairly for the unfortunate event. When we do this, it aims our rage towards another individual which creates a channel of anger. In the lesson, Zach gives an example such as blaming the immigrants for lack of jobs.
Like many other problems, Racism has existed throughout the history of mankind. The definition of Racism is being discriminant and disrespectful towards a racial group with the belief that your own race is superior. Racism has changed the world and how people view each other. This belief that ones race is superior has lead to create violence, stereotypes, health problems and hatred in the world. White Americans’ support for segregation sprang from a widespread belief in black inferiority and that blacks’ disadvantaged status tended to reinforce this sentiment (Harris and Leiberman).