How Did Atticus Protests The Jim Crow Laws In To Kill A Mockingbird

The first influence on Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is the Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws are laws that were set to restrict Blacks, these laws were considered a way of life (Pilgrim). People thought that these laws were necessary because craniologists, eugenicists, phrenologists, and Social Darwinists at every level believed that Blacks were intellectually inferior (Pilgrim). Punishments would be dealt out for any reason, such as breaking Jim Crow laws, and alleged criminal offenses (Pilgrim). Some typical punishments were physical beatings and lynchings. The Jim Crow laws are seen throughout To Kill a Mockingbird. One Jim Crow law mandated Whites did not have to use courtesy titles when referring to Blacks. Thus

The first influence on Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is the Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws were a set of rules that perpetuated racism and segregation. These rules were sickening and appalling. The Jim Crow laws were made to keep Blacks from interacting with Whites. For example, if a white woman were to fall a black man could not offer her, his hand to help her up because it was considered rape (Pilgrim 2). Many scientists and religious leaders justified these laws. One reason was that scientist thought that black peoples brains were inferior to those of white people. Also, many religious leaders believed that Whites were the chosen people and Blacks were just there to serve them (Pilgrim 2). If you were not following these laws, there were sever consequences. People believed these punishments were necessary to “keep Blacks in their place”. One example is mass lynching. This punishment is when a mob of people would take a black person, accused of breaking a rule, and beat them, torture them, and kill them. The police didn’t just not stop these rampages, often they would participate. The Jim Crow laws can be seen in To Kill a Mockingbird in many ways. One of the laws was that a black person could not say that a white person was lying (Pilgrim). This is shown in the book when Tom is accused of calling Mayella a liar, by Mr. Gilmer (Lee 224).

In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee segregation plays a huge role throughout the story. The Jim Crow Law also lay along these lines too. The Jim Crow Laws were laws that legalized segregation between blacks and whites. In Harper Lee’s book black and white people are often separated.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the sleepy, southern Maycomb, Alabama. A small town in the grips of 1930’s depression, To Kill a Mockingbird spans a period of three years following young Scout Finch and her family through their experiences with racism and prejudice. Jim Crow laws were a series of ordinances the prevented equal treatment of African-Americans. Beginning with the end of Reconstruction in 1877 and remaining in effect until the Civil rights movement of the 1950s, Jim Crow laws governed where colored people could live, work, eat, enter and exit a building, and use public services. “Jim Crow laws grew from theories of white supremacy and were a reaction to Reconstruction,” explained Andrew Costly of the Constitutional Rights Foundation, “In the depression-racked 1890s, racism appealed to whites who feared losing their jobs to blacks.” Ensuring that freed slaves remained weak and inferior, Jim Crow laws revoked black freedom’s and crippled their rights. And while not explicitly stated, evidence of Jim Crow Laws appears methodically throughout To Kill a Mockingbird. Strongly influenced by elements of racism, the story paints a vivid picture of life in the era of Jim Crow, for both colored and white.

The first influence on Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is the Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws perpetuated segregation. The Jim Crow laws were appalling. It was a racial system that had many terrible anti-Black laws (“Jim Crow laws”). These laws were huge in the south and border states. People treated and acted horrible towards the Blacks. Some examples of these laws were how Blacks and Whites could not eat together and how African Americans had to sit in the back of a White person's car(“Jim Crow laws”). These laws were basically cutting off almost all communication and action with any Black. Jim Crow had separate bathrooms, schools, churches, cemeteries and public accommodations for each race(Pilgrim). There were many reasons for the laws. For example, a black male could not offer or shake hands with a white woman because he would be accused of rape(“Jim Crow laws”) A Black could also never offer to light a white females' cigarette or show public affection toward another in public because it showed intimacy and offended Whites(“Jim Crow laws”). Boating implied social equality(“Jim Crow laws”). These examples just showed how disrespected African Americans were treated. Pilgrim points out that the Jim Crow laws were trying to keep Blacks and Whites separated. With these laws and reasons came punishments. Punishments were done if a Black broke a law and used as intimidation(“Jim Crow laws”). When a group of black males tried sitting in the White section of a bus they were arrested(“Jim Crow laws”). Blacks could get physically beat by a White if they drank out of the Whites water fountain or tried to vote(“Jim Crow laws”). The most extreme punishments were lynchings and occurred for demanding civil rights riots and violating laws(“Jim Crow laws”). Lynchings were public and most

All of Scout’s family claimed to be negatively affected by Atticus standing up for a black man, Atticus disagreed because he believed that all races were equal. To show how unfair discrimination and segregation against African Americans were, and how nothing but a permanent law could stop it. Cousin Francis says “Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover, it certainly does mortify the rest of the family… he’s ruinin’ the family”(Lee 94). Francis says this to Scout when he is talking about Atticus defending an African American in a case he has basically already lost. If Tom Robinson was white Atticus would not be given as much hate as he has right now.

Atticus is a firm believer in equal rights and to show this he did his best to treat everyone fairly. He has noticed the racism going on in the town and he is not okay with this, to show this, Atticus teaches his kids that racism is unfair and unreasonable “ “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men everyday

Atticus was the defendant in the Tom Robinson case, and he proudly stood up for Tom. He was called a “Nigger lover” throughout the book because he defended Tom. “What kind of parent would I be if I didn't defend him, sure I was assigned his case but if I didn't try my best to defend him then I couldn't tell anyone else what to do.” Throughout the whole thing Atticus resembles a mockingbird, he is innocent and he is defending an innocent man. Jem and Scout also experience this in a way many people including

In addition to that, Atticus also teaches his children how to have tough skin. When Mrs. Dubose called Atticus an n-word lover, Scout gets curious as to what that means. When Atticus explains that it means you love black people and treat them people similar to white people, Scout asks him if it was true. Atticus, answering wholeheartedly, replies with “I do my best to love everybody.... it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name” exemplifying how Atticus’ moral code keeps him strong-willed and is the reason for his integrity (Lee 125).

The first lesson he teaches the children is about tolerance. Atticus is talking to scout about the Ewells, and how they are low class people that disrespect the laws of Maycomb. He talks about Mr. Ewell, and how he is an alcoholic that would hit his kids. Scout says, “Mr. Ewell shouldn’t do that---” (Lee 41). Atticus responds with “of course he shouldn’t, but he’ll never change his ways. Are you going to take out your disapproval on his children?” (Lee 41). The grievous Mrs. Dubose is scoffing Jem about how, “Your father’s no better than the niggers

Despite the influences all around him from his family, town, and society, Atticus keeps an open heart to any race, and refuses to stoop to the low level of racism.The sole fact of Atticus’s drive to protect Tom Robinson despite all the possible harm it could bring to those he loves. At every chance he gets, he passes on words of nurture to his children to instill kindness towards all people, despite any scenario. When Scout confronts Atticus about hearing him called the term, “nigger lover”, Atticus defuses the term by explaining that the term doesn’t truly mean anything and that he loves all people. “‘Scout,’ said Atticus, ‘nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything—like snot-nose. It's hard to explain—ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It's slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody.’

To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel with demonstrations of many unfair things. One example of these unfair things is the demonstration of the Jim Crow Laws in action. The Jim Crow Laws were the laws that allowed segregation between whites and blacks. These laws could deny blacks education, jobs, and transportation. They completely violated the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments. White people tried to defend this by saying that blacks were more likely to commit crimes

Slavery was abolished in 1865 by Abraham Lincoln. Although the blacks were free they were not “equal” making the next set of laws which were the Jim Crow laws which were passed in 1890 with the quote “Separate but equal.” Harper Lee writes a novel placing the setting in the Deep South, during the 1930’s. During the 1930’s, the Jim Crow laws of segregation were established. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird Lee writes an eye opener about the racism in the Deep South.

Scout’s classmates made fun of Atticus during school for defending Tom Robinson, so Scout became angry and nearly fought them. When she came home, she asked Atticus why he must defend a black man. He explained that he feels morally obligated to defend him. He understood that kids in Scout’s school will say terrible things about him and that they will make her angry, so he advised that she avoid anger and use knowledge to defend herself instead of her fists.

One thing Atticus always stood up for was to never fight, to be humble and remain respectful no matter what happens.Scout is being called named because of her father defending Tom so Scout doesn't like it and wants to fight everyone that calls her names. On page 76, Atticus said “You just hold your head high and keep those fist down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t let ‘em get your goat.Try fighting with your head for a change.”This quote explains how Atticus wanted them to use their heads and challenge the world and their peers instead of fighting them. That is one lesson that every child should learn. Atticus would also teach them to never judge a person because of the stereotypes that people are held up to. On page 30 Atticus says “You never understand a person until you consider things from their point of view- until you climb into their skin and walk around in it.” These lessons that Atticus taught his kids helped them understand the world and the process they were about to get themselves