To Kill A Mockingbird Racial Inequality Essay

Have you ever witnessed a case of racial and social inequality? In a perfect world, there would be true racial, social equality, where everyone would be respected as a person, no matter their gender, race, or social class. However, this perfect world does not exist. America, or any other country in this world, will never truly achieve racial and social equality. There is too much hate and too vast of a difference, for people to accept each other. There is a cultural difference that can spark conflict, and be offensive for different people. Many judgements take place on what people have heard about, on the radio. Even today, all the terrorist attacks that sliver of people blinded by prejudice for so long, it is normal for thinking for them.

Although there is a promise of failure Atticus will not stop on his fight for justice. In order for his children to see the difference in how the world is and how it should be Atticus is constantly teaching them about the unfairness and unjust ways around them. Using your higher status in society to belittle and discriminate against those below you is an appalling act that according to Atticus Finch makes you trash. ‘“As you grow older, you 'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don 't you forget it -- whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash”’ The metaphor “that white man is trash” is used when Atticus is explaining to his son the unjust racist ways of their small town.

The amount of discrimination that is reported does not drop depending on whether you’re a high class or working class individual. Middle class African Americans are just as likely to face as much discrimination as a working class African American( Feagin and sikes 1994, Kessler et al. 1990). According to the article because of this racial inequality those that are victims of racial inequality are more likely to develop mental health problems like depression and anxiety, which can impact the individuals success in his education and work pursuits. Ways the scholars researched this issue was conducting employee surveys and asking them about their view on their fellow co-worker and in person interviews. They could see if hiring decisions were based on race or if the employers had any prejudices.

When people around the town found out that Atticus was going to help Tom Robinson in court, they began to call him racist names and to disrespect him as if he was African American. The children of Atticus were verbally abused, being called names as their father was. “That evening a mob went to the jail to lynch Tom Robinson, and it looked as if they would toss Atticus aside if they had to.” (Lee, 278). Right after Tom Robinson’s trial as he was in jail, a mop came and tried to kill him.

Racial discrimination is an ongoing inequality that is seen in multiple ways, one being racial/ethnic groups which effects their pay wages. The black-white

Yet alongside those, there are conspicuous demonstrations of racism that would never happen in today's society. Lee illustrates many of these behaviors in her novel. Atticus, one of our main characters, is the white lawyer that decides to defend a black man (Tom Robinson) in court, despite

Harper Lee touches upon many social issues in To Kill a Mockingbird. Among these issues is the matter of racism in America during the 1930s. This novel focused on the issue of racism through the case of Tom Robinson which conveyed the strong hostility towards African-Americans in Maycomb, Alabama. Other various occasions in the novel exhibit racism’s potential and influence in this country including Aunt Alexandra's disapproval of Calpurnia, and Mr. Dolphus Raymond’s hidden life. Through the results of these instances, Harper Lee shed a new light on racism and how it will always persist in America.

Through Atticus, the author presents an argument for equality and racial tolerance. All black people were categorised in this era; they were seen as aggressive, untrustworthy and inhuman. This is completely different

Towards the middle of the book, Atticus, as he is a lawyer, decides to defend an innocent black man, Tom Robinson in court. During Atticus’s speech to the jury, he says “You know the truth and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women- black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human and to no particular race of men” (Lee 273). Atticus argues that it would be unfair and unjust to convict a man just because he is black. Everyone is born equal; your skin colour does not define the way you act and behave.

People did not like the fact that Atticus was defending a Negro and criticized them for it. “‘Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for’” (Lee 135). Because of the racism in Maycomb, and because Atticus was trying to defend Tom, people got angry at the Finch family. Atticus’s family was also in danger because of Bob Ewell.

One can’t help but wonder why? In his 2009 essay about discrimination and illegal immigration, Earl Hutchinson, an African American author who focuses on political and racial issues in America, considers the current stereotype of black people in America and how it impacts hiring discrimination. He shares that

In the classical 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee depicts the social and racial inequality in southern American society during the 1930’s. Residing in Maycomb County, Atticus Finch and his two children, Scout and Jem, gain appreciation for tolerance as they encounter diverse characters such as Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Told from Scout’s perspective of their adventures, Jem and Scout explore the prejudicial flaws of their community. The portrayal of a catalyst and prophet matches the personality of Jeremy “Jem” Atticus Finch; serving as the brother and friend of his sister Scout, Jem’s once innocent and naive world view is exposed to the less savory aspects of southern culture when his father takes on a case defending an African American man accused of rape. As the dehumanizing factors of institutionalized and widespread racial discrimination and prejudice become evident, Jem learns that empathy and human understanding are crucial in realizing full human potential.

A study indicates that dark-skinned African Americans face a distinct disadvantage when applying for jobs. Matthew Harrison, a doctoral student at UGA undertook the first significant study of "colorism" in the workplace. He found that a light-skinned black male can have only a bachelor's degree and typical work experience and still be preferred over a dark-skinned black male with an M.B.A. and past managerial positions, simply because expectations of the light-skinned black male are much higher, and he doesn't appear as “menacing' as the darker-skinned male applicant.” This finding is possibly due to the common belief that fair-skinned blacks probably have more similarities with whites than do dark-skinned blacks, which in turn makes whites feel more comfortable around them. (Harrison

Can you be surprised at my discouragement?” This young African American was first in his class and that means nothing because he is black. Even though he was top of his class, his job choices were restricted because white people won’t employ him or work with him. This is one example that shows that blacks way of acquiring an income was cut off no matter how educated or experienced they

Whites lead the number of employments (with less than a high school diploma) at 7,879,000, while blacks (1,069,000), Asians (500,000) and Hispanic (5,472,000) fall behind. Unemployment rates in colored people (Black: 8.4%, Hispanic: 5.8%) are higher than that of white (4.3%) as they have been through history. The unemployment rates of those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher are more prominent in blacks (3.7%) than Asians (2.8%), Hispanic (3.1%) and whites (2.3%). These results conclude that racism creates employment discrimination in the US economy. The reasoning for this discrimination is formed by the need for white laborers to secure the “materials and the symbolic aspects of their social position.”