1930's Discrimination

The act of prejudice is one that everyone experiences. Whether it be, a person who is distributing hate, or a person who is receiving hate, everyone has contact with it. Although it is present all over the globe, it is prominent in the United States. Both in the present and the past, endless acts of discrimination have taken place and left a monumental impact on the country. The effect that it leaves can be seen in the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. In this story, sexism, racism, and isolation, are demonstrated in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930’s. As the story progresses, Lee compares these concepts to one another and uses them to make a statement about the problematic nature in America.

Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, is a realistic story that deeply discusses issues involved with the 1930’s that still resonate today. The struggles of life are evident within the believable characters of Maycomb County which is a microcosm, reflective of universal issues. Along with the authentic characters, setting and style also helps to convey Lee’s controversial notions of racial and gender prejudice, and persecution of the innocent, discussing many other ideas within.

The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in a small town called Maycomb in the 1930s. In this novel the people of Maycomb discriminate against people that they have no background information about or people that are different in some way. An innocent black man is convicted of a crime he never commits, a man is stereotyped to be dangerous and scary and there are gender stereotypes.

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a complex literary work exploring several aspects of the human condition. Lee’s story is one based in the 1930’s, shortly before the Civil Rights Movement. Her novel ventures into the societal issues, such as racism and gender stereotyping, in their fictional town, Maycomb. One recurring theme throughout the narrative is the social adjustment of the citizens of Maycomb and the human race as a whole. Lee showcases the progress in social justice matters by using symbolism and motifs.

Racism, Segregation and ill-treatment of coloured is major theme explored in the text by Harper Lee. This problem in the little town of Maycomb is just a tiny reflection in the corner of the mirror, of America at the time. And even the world, with references to Nazi Russia in the novel also bringing to light segregation in other parts of the world. She comes right out to say that the world is a racist world, with this novel and she writes to show others what is happening and that it is actually not right. And she does so in a great way by highlighting one great injustice rather than the many and bringing to a realization how irrational and unfair the entire American Justice system was. But we also see a development in the white characters which a representative of the entire America in a sense (and the world) as thoughts and ideas change and people’s views about coloured people change, not abruptly but slow of course. The black characters in To Kill A Mockingbird contribute to the development of the white characters rather than appearing as individuals in their own right. Racism is learnt, and with this we can see that Racism can

First off, in the book, prejudice is shown through the trial. The trial shows the race part of prejudice because Tom is found guilty because of his skin color. “Judge Taylor was polling the jury: Guilty... guilty…..guilty” (Lee 282). Tom Robinson is a black man living in Maycomb, Alabama. He is found guilty for raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. During the trial, Atticus Finch is trying to help Tom Robinson live his life, and be found not guilty. Tom Robinson is, unfortunately, found guilty. The color of his skin determines this decision of the jury. In this time period, black men and women were treated differently than white men or women. There were many facts that were shown in the trial that pointed away from Tom, like when Atticus said

The 1920’s, also known as the ‘Roaring Twenties’, was a decade in which the increase of discrimination was prevalent due to immigration and migration. Immigration is the movement of people from their country, to a foreign country. Migration is the movement of people from one area to another. The migration and immigration of people was primarily due to the end of WWI.

Society in the United States has changed the way discrimination is from the 1800’s to the 2000’s and is a big impact to people all around the country. Many African-Americans have been discriminated for a long period of time and now, many athletes are taking a stand to show its physically and morally wrong and occurs in past history, sports, and even the police force. Discrimination is is immoral tell this day and is still a horrifying act.

The clashing of arms and fists are never a way to save yourself, it causes danger for someone else, with discrimination being a large role in the 1920s, it caused blacks and whites to have a new uproar of segregation ,and making the 1920s an even darker time. In the 1920s, racism was a major crime that thrived on throughout many areas, even though people thought it had subdued, it really never went away. With the riots ,and clans ,and unfair worthiness to citizens , many citizens of different races lost their lives because of it. The screeching and torture of citizens crying out for help was a dramatic time for people of opposing races.

Woman in the early days weren’t considered the luckiest people. Although they faced a lot of discrimination due to gender, they did have few rights. “During the 1920s, the amount of working woman had actually increased by 25 percent.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/usa/1920srev2.shtml . Women were also given rights to vote and they were known as flappers.

Discrimination in the 1930s was extreme. To begin with, discrimination against blacks led to where most whites thought that blacks were incapable of doing simple tasks. “…who’da thought of little dewberry tarts…Calpurnia?...who’da thought it” (Lee 306). This was said by the women during a social time at the Finchs’ house, when they believed that Calpurnia was incapable of even making dewberry tarts. Next, discrimination against blacks at this time period made it to the point where most whites believed that all blacks were inferior and lacked little, if any, intelligence and wisdom. “Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw” (Lee 322). This was said about Tom Robinson when

During the Great Depression, racism was a common practice in the southern states of the US. Negros and those who opposed the intolerance were often discriminated by the rest of the bias and ignorant society, who believed in white supremacy and superiority over the other races. Maycomb, a racist town, exemplify this discrimination, imperiously judging others they view as being dissimilar from themselves. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, the author, weaves a brilliant story of prejudice, discrimination, and racism shown through the novel’s several characters and events, producing a mirror reflection of America’s racist society in the 1930’s.

From the streets, workplaces, courts, and even schools, racial discrimination can be found anywhere. In today’s society, it is generally found carry a negative connotation, yet racially fueled conflict can be found in any corner of the United States. The 1930s were no different, as explained by Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The story uses the interactions between characters and the setting to explore the normality of racism in Maycomb County, Alabama, and its considerably adverse effects on the children of the town.

One of many themes that is evidently present throughout the book is prejudice. The main action is of Atticus defending the innocent ‘Tom Robinson’ who is falsely accused of the rape of a white girl. Tom is discriminated because of the colour of his skin and 99% of the population of Maycomb see nothing wrong with thinking in this way. All except the Finches really. Being

To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel by Harper Lee, deals much with problems such as social bias. This story takes place in Alabama, in a town called Maycomb. The citizens of Maycomb face many difficulties that test their moral values. The characters of this book have their own opinions of other people. Sometimes they let preconceived notions obscure clear thought.