Examples Of Racial Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

The story of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a classic part of American Literature that explores the different aspects of prejudice and integration. There are multiple scenes in both the novel and movie that show this separation between races, because these actions were common at this time in the 1930’s. Some examples of segregation in the story include the separated courtroom, the housekeeper Calpurnia in the back of the car, and the outcome of Tom Robinson’s case. One example of segregation is the separation in the courtroom. During Tom Robinson’s trial, the courtroom was very clearly divided between whites and blacks.

To Kill a Mockingbird has many themes that can affect and relate to any readers. Although the novel is around sixty years old, its important messages still impact readers today. The novel is based on the childhood memories of Harper Lee, the author, during the times of the Civil Rights. In To Kill a Mockingbird the main characters Scout, Jem, and Atticus are greatly affected by the racism going on around them and it shapes them to go against society 's norm, while also informing and inspiring all readers in a variety of ways.

“The roots of racism lie deep in a man’s nature, wounded and bruised by original sin” Sargent Shriver. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been read by thousands, and it teaches lessons that everyone can apply to their life. One of the most apparent themes of the story is humanity. The main characters Jem, Scout, and their lawyer father Atticus are followed throughout the story, as he tries to raise them with respect for all people in the small prejudice town of Maycomb. Atticus has been appointed to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman in the racist town.

Both characters from both texts Tom Robinson and the accused kid is manipulated by both creators as a prime example of being prejudged as the victims. Being both colored and having different backgrounds, they were taken advantage of by both juries in addition to the ideology of white supremacy and racial segregation at that time as Juror 10 mentions "You can 't a believe…they 're born liars" and in the case of Emmett Till shows that accused was Caucasian and acquitted by an all-white jury meaning they wouldn 't give a fair trial to other than their own race in potentially any given situation. This shows that both Lee and Lumet uses the simplistic idea of using the defendants to portray as a prime example of prejudice happening in both texts. The corruption as well in the American Justice System as shown from Till 's murder also contributes to how prejudice is being displayed by both creators as they were all-white (maybe MAWM) and full of biases/prejudice. It 's not just the defendants that show the prejudice, bias and corruption going on the American Justice System but rather the people that make up of it too.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point… until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it ” (Lee 39). To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a story about equality, whether that be in gender, race, age, or social standard. A story that shows growth and understanding within the characters of problems that still take effect till this day. This story is set during the Great Depression, in the small, quiet southern town of Maycomb, Alabama. A place where people resent blacks and are judged upon their status quo or family history.

This had a great impact on Tom Robinson's trial because he was seen as inferior to the jury, Bob Ewell, and his daughter, Mayella Ewell. The jury decided to take the words of the superior even though Tom was not guilty. The results of the trial were biased because of the unfair laws that even influenced the decisions of the jury during the

I, member of the jury, am choosing to vote Tom Robinson not guilty on the account of rapeing Mayella Ewell. All evidence that arose during the trial proves his innocence in the case. Nevertheless, I have to make a decision based on my moral values, not the societal norms of Maycomb County. During the trial, the witness testimonies were continually contradicted.

The testimonies reveal how deep-rooted the racism within Maycomb runs, as it is present even in court rulings and how casually present it is. The court is taking place, and the order of prosecutor’s witnesses who are: Mr. Heck Tate, the sheriff; Mr. Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father; and Mayella Ewell, the one who is accusing Tom Robinson of raping her. When it’s Mr. Ewell’s turn to speak, he does so with many racial slurs and slang embedded in his accusations. When relaying what he saw to the jury, he points at Tom and yells “―I seen that black n*gger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!” Mr. Ewell, who, although, has never been a part of a court case or viewed one, doesn’t truly care, or notice, that so far into the formal case, not one person has used racial slang to talk about Tom, and uses the term n*gger quite casually.

EXTENDED ESSAY How are African American Characters portrayed in: To Kill A Mockingbird? TUSHAR MANEKLAL CANDIDATE # ENGLISH LITERATURE SUPERVISOR: MR. SHAWN SKINNER DATE: November 2014 WORD COUNT: 3739

On March 25, 1931, nine African American teens ranging from ages 9-18 were accused of the rape of two white teens. The boys even faced a lynch mob at one point, and was almost given the death penalty. These teens were seen to be victims of the injustice of Jim Crow laws. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a mockingbird Tom Robinson further represents the injustice of Jim Crow laws. He is faced with the crime of an alleged rape.

The most important theme in this novel that is apparent throughout the entire book is social inequality. This sets the tone for the book and most events are based around this common theme. Throughout the book, the characters learn about the real world through the racism and unbalance of social power that takes place during this time period. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee represents the struggles for social equality in the 1930's through two young characters that grow up around people that are pushing racism and segregation. For example, it was known throughout the whole town that Atticus “won’t win, he can’t win” (Lee 246) in his trial defending a black man.