Black or White: Moralistic Communities to Highlight Sin of Killing a Mockingbird

During the 1930’s depression, there was a great divide between black and white America. There were many communities and groups who had been exposed to the same treatment and persecution as the Negroes in To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee has used a small town setting, such as that in To Kill a Mockingbird, to illustrate America’s views on white supremacy and the inferiority of the black race. The author has illustrated view that are expressed world-wide through her characters in Maycomb county.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a witty and well-written account of the realities of a “tired old town” (4) where there was “nothing to buy and nothing to buy it with” (4). Purposefully, it comes across not merely an innocently portrayed, yet eye-opening, story of a young girl start to grasp the inequalities of her society. Rather, it is accompanied by recollection of the unfortunate pillars of hate of the places Harper Lee matured in. We now perceive this account as an ‘archaic” and “ancient” recount of some historically frowned upon mindsets in an enthralling atmosphere upon which we pin historical quantities of prejudice, racism and most of all, bigotry. The unfortunate reality is that we look at history in a vacuum and ignore the occurrences of our own times. So although we, like Scout’s teachers teaching about the horrible acts of the Holocaust while being outspokenly racist, are able to analyze social inequalities in other places in time or the world yet refuse to open our eyes to the same prejudice, racism and bigotry today. To instance, when reading To Kill a Mockingbird , we often frown upon citizens for judging “folks” based on their family name and race, although, everyday, some member of our current society, such as police officers and employers, do the same thing and no one bats an eye. Alternatively, the issue which we definitely desperately desire to avoid, racism, is explicitly tackled in To Kill a Mockingbird to the point of viral awareness of the problem in

“But now he’s turned out a nigger-lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again. He’s ruining’ the family, that’s what he’s doing’.” (Lee 110). The power of hatred is one so strong, that it imprisons the Finches and African Americans of Maycomb County. In Alabama of 1920 to 1930, segregation is an established action of the Southerners, it’s a lifestyle. The slurs passed from the mouths of white Southerners and ending with the shooting of a black man, the ways of Maycomb County are ones seen as either shocking or common in today’s eyes. To Kill A Mockingbird is an eminent novel by Harper Lee that illustrates the aspects of discrimination and prejudice, tolerance and courage during a time in America where racial inequality

What if one of literature’s most celebrated novels wasn’t as good as one originally thought? Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird tells the story of Scout and Jem Finch, and their friend Dill Harris, three children living in a small town in the deep south during the Great Depression. One summer, Maycomb County is thrown into racial turmoil when Scout and Jem’s father, Atticus, is appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell, the white daughter of the town drunkard. Although the themes in To Kill a Mockingbird center around equality and justice, Lee sugarcoats many of the elements of racism and ultimately ends up championing the Caucasian race as opposed to delivering powerful messages about diversity.

As the United States “progresses” in economic, educational and technological advancements we still are fighting for racial equality. With more than 50 years since the brown vs. board of education case there is still incidents like Ferguson, Baton Rouge, and Phiando Castile where many questions are still unanswered. However, Harper Lee dealt with these same problems in 1960 when she wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee created an emotionally confronting story. Lee writes through the eyes of “Scout” a lawyer’s daughter in a small sleepy town of Maycomb in Alabama during the great depression. Throughout the book “Scout” learns coming of age lessons from Atticus and her own experiences. But when Atticus takes on a case defending a black man (Tom Robinson) convicted for rapping a white woman (Mayella Ewell) and is found guilty. “Scout” her brother Jem begin to understand the effects of the prejudices in society. Therefore, Lee applies the literary concepts of diction and tone to revel the truth that prejudices in society negatively affect the way people treat each other in To Kill a Mocking Bird.

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a timeless, touching novel that examines stereotyping and its consequences. The novel shadows Atticus Finch, a small town lawyer, as he defends a black man, Tom Robinson who is accused of raping a white woman in racist Maycomb, Alabama. In this small town, hypocrisy is brought out tremendously. Prejudice and stereotyping flows throughout this book. The idea of people as "trash" is discussed throughout the story.

The 1960’s was the height of racial issues during the 20th century. Even under these circumstances, Harper Lee, a white, female author, wrote her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Not only does To Kill a Mockingbird go against society’s opinions at that time, but it addresses themes that apply to everyday life. One main theme is ‘People tend to take risks for the people they care for’. To Kill a Mockingbird is about a girl named Scout and the problems her family faces. Her dad, Atticus, is lawyer who is currently defending a black man in court. Tom Robinson, the black man, was accused of raping a white girl. The story illustrates how society treats people who are different from them and how those people stick together. One example that supports

Millions of humans have suffered at the hands of racism and discriminatory events throughout history. The majority of these racial and discriminatory events are the basis of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel references Jim Crow laws, mob mentality, as well as the issues of racism and discrimination in that period of time.

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee’s use of indirect and direct characterization of Atticus Finch, a lawyer, father, and citizen of the predominantly racist county of Maycomb, reveals the town’s harsh views on Atticus because of his rightful but risky, defense of an African American man, Tom Robinson, accused of rape. The people in the racist society of Maycomb believe that “‘[Atticus is] nothin’ but n----- lover” because he defends Tom Robinson (Lee 110). Being associated with people of color in this town destroys your reputation and causes people to look down on you, as they think that colored people are less human than whites. Atticus, therefore, seems less valuable as a person by association with “n------s”. Even

During the 20th century, many people were given privileges and treated with more respect, due to prejudice and bias against a particular ethnicity, race, and gender. To Kill a Mockingbird and a Raisin in the Sun were two very prominent meaningful works that reflected upon the years of racism and discrimination in the 1900s. By putting the audience and readers in perspective of African- Americans, Lorraine Hansberry and Harper Lee showcase the obstacles and challenges Africans-Americans had to face when in pursuit of a goal or ideal. They showcased the constant critical ``marginalization`` of African-Americans, and what impact the racial stereotypes had on an African-American and their dreams and aspirations. Characters are continuously challenged

By showcasing Atticus Finch’s heroism and nobility, Lee crafts a novel that degrades Black characters and perpetuates White savior stereotypes. Although it is still a valuable tool for exploring moral development, To Kill a Mockingbird strips Black characters of their agency and is thus an ineffective critique of racism. White savior to alleviate White guilt

“To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee emphasises the power of racial segregation and prejudice towards the black people which was predominant during the Depression era. Set in Maycomb County, an imaginary distinct in Southern Alabama, the novel describes the story of an attorney, Atticus Finch and his courage and determination to defend an innocent black man. Lee’s use of character development and detailed depictions have allowed the reader to view Atticus as heroic through his righteous and just actions. These actions are demonstrated through elements that construct him as the protagonist, portraying him as an embodiment of courage, wisdom and dignity. These elements are seen in his character, behaviour, attitudes and beliefs.

In today’s society, people are not treated equally. Many people push for equality, but the problem is still occurring today. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she uses racism to prove how people’s views on African American’s have not changed. Through the use of symbolism and diction, Harper Lee shows the idea of social injustice against blacks. Lee uses symbolism to show how innocent people are sometimes treated unfairly.

Discrimination, this is a word that is heard today and was seen especially in the southern U.S. in the early 1900’s. In Harper Lee’s To kill a Mockingbird discrimination is seen with the life of Tom Robinson and what he experiences throughout the whole case. In another instance Calpurnia is discriminated upon throughout the whole book just because she is of a different color skin. In the same way Woman in general are constantly discriminated against whether through the way they dress, act, or just the fact that they can not be in a jury.

Earlier in the novel, Scout relates that Atticus views the Ewell family as “the disgrace of Maycomb” (33). However, as the Ewells are a white family, they are having a higher social status. During the trial, it is declared that Mayella seduces Tom Robinson, and her father, Bob Ewell, thought that his daughter would shift her warm feelings for a black man. In addition, Bob Ewell’s reaction to his daughter kissing to Tom Robinson displays the fear of miscegenation. Atticus, however, strives for justice. Atticus explains the ugly truth to Jem and Scout: “In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (251-252). Atticus shows disgust with white people taking advantage of a black person’s ignorance” (252). Tom Robinson is facing a trial and the death sentence because he is black. Furthermore, Atticus makes it clear to his children that racism exists and tells Scout and Jem: 'In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always