How Does Racism Occur In To Kill A Mockingbird

Scout Finch’s daddy did not like when people call the black people niggers because its not a nice way to say another race like that. Scout asked Jem and Boo Boo father if he agrees with that because scout didn't agreed with it. Scout told ANticus children if they called them that a bad thing and he wont let them talk to his children. JEM asked scout then why do you send us to this school

In the book the folks of the town look down on tom Robinson. “I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin on my Mayella” (Lee 231). This shows how the people of Maycomb look down on black people. It also shows how the accused tom of doing a crime he did not even do. Constantly in the book Scout and Jem are being told that black people aren’t friendly.

In the novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ siblings Jem and Scout begin to learn the harsh effects of racism, specifically in the ninth chapter after their father accepts a job defending a black man in court. Jem and Scout are bombarded with name-calling and harsh stares from their classmates, family members and neighbors, and quickly learn to understand what kind of aftermath racism has on it’s victims. The siblings are growing up in an era where racism was normalized, however, the events in chapter nine, where Cecil Jacobs tells Scout “‘....your daddy’s a disgrace…’” (pg 76) and Scouts own cousin Francis tells her “‘....it [Atticus defending a black man] certainly does mortify the rest of the family.’” (pg 83) give her a taste of the pain that

In the novel, Scout 's cousin, Francis Hancock, said “I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I’m here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family–” (Lee 110). Francis criticized Atticus through Scout. He did not believe that whites should be helping blacks. He called Atticus a “nigger lover” like many others in Maycomb, even though Atticus was simply trying to help an innocent man, treating him the way everyone should be treated. Mrs. Dubose disapproved of the man that Atticus decided to defend. She believed that Atticus has gone against what he was taught when he was raised. To Mrs. Dubose, anyone associated with the Negroes were no better than them. Many people in Maycomb had the same views as Mrs. Dubose. They believed that being friends with a Negro made you trash like them. Therefore, they had been calling Jem and Scout names and insulting Atticus by calling him a nigger lover. Like Mrs. Dubose, Francis said that Atticus had gone against the family.

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).

While talking to Scout about “nigger-lovers”, atticus gives him some very good advice to follow. “I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes—baby, it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you. "(Atticus 144-145).

Scout also faces prejudice among the people she knows very well, but Jem, her brother also has to face prejudices from the community as well, some of these people being their neighbors. ”But Mrs. Dubose held us: “Not only a Finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers!” Jem stiffened. Mrs. Dubose’s shot had gone home and she knew it: “Yes indeed, what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising? I’ll tell you!” She put her hand to her mouth. When she drew it away, it trailed a long silver thread of saliva. “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for”(lee 135). Mrs. Dubose, being the neighbor of Scout and Jem harasses them

In this book “to kill a mockingbird” the book is place in 1900’s the kind of racism that takes place in the book doesn't happen today But was very common in those Times.Now African American are accepted like any other person.

For example, At Jem and Scouts school, one of their classmates Cecil made a comment on Tom Robinson’s case saying “My folks said your daddy was a disgrace” (Chap. 9 ) This shows, that just because Atticus was defending a coloured person , people thought he was doing the wrong thing. When Scout goes to Aunt Alexandra house, she also gets a response of Tom Robinsons from her cousin. Scout arrives at Aunt Alexandra ’s house her cousin Francis also makes a comment on Tom Robinson’s case.

In the book To kill a Mockingbird it shows how society uses systematic racism and regular racism to limit the rights of those who are indifferent to us. “Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” (Lee 110). This is an example of how society treats people that are different skin colored, they don’t believe white people should defend black people because they don’t deserve it, this is a just one example of how society uses systematic racism to attack the outcasts. Another example of systematic racism is the verdict of Tom Robinson which is an act of social injustice because a black man's word isn’t as powerful and trustworthy as a white man's word.

Racism is something that most people would claim they do not believe in or support; however, as clearly shown in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, racism is a disease that spreads through a region and worsens as time goes on. Racism is an issue that is still prevalent in the American society today, and Harper Lee’s timeless novel continues to teach the lesson that one needs to look beyond the color of another man’s skin and see them for who they truly are. Mr. Raymond’s conversation with Dill after Tom Robinson’s testimony initially shows that racism is better comprehended with age. He says, “Let him get a little older and he won’t get sick and cry… Cry about the hell white people give to colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people too” (Lee, 1960, p. 269). Here, it becomes clear that children can be naive to racism and the evil in the world, but as they continue to grow up in an area that feels so strongly about white supremacy, they become immune to the injustice and prejudice. Further, Mr. Raymond’s words allow the reader to better understand the severity of the racism in Maycomb and the entirety of the country. It also unveils a crucial theme in the novel, namely that one must consider a person of color to be no different from oneself, as all humans are equal. Additionally, racism is repeatedly referred to as a disease in the novel, which is explained when Atticus is talking to Uncle Jack about the trial and he says “‘... I hope and pray I can get

One of the characters the reader can most easily follow through this change is the protagonist, Scout. Scout begins the book as an innocent young girl who finds no wrong in the world around her, but as the trial commences and tensions run high, Scout soon learns of the evils the world possesses. Society’s hatred for the blacks is shown so commonly in everyday life that all the children in the novel use the word nigger in an innocent way. Society has taught these kids at a young age that calling the negroes niggers is the cultural norm and that they are expected to use it. Atticus reminds Scout not to use the term, but Scout points out the prevalent usage in their world. “‘Don’t say nigger, Scout. That’s common.’ ‘’s what everybody at school says.’’From now on it’ll be everybody less one—’‘Well if you don’t want me to grow up talkin‘ that way, why do you send me to school?’(77). This conversation shows the reader that the influence on kids to use racist terms is heavy, even the kids can see it. Scout’s brother, Jem, is also influenced by the public’s thoughts. Scout overhears Atticus telling their uncle that he hopes he can get Jem “‘through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disease’” (91). The disease Atticus is referring to is the racism the town shows toward negroes. He recognizes that it is common in the town around them, but

In the 1930’s the majority of society despised blacks, however, Atticus proves himself an exception due to his views demonstrated throughout the course of Tom Robinson's trial. Atticus believes that everyone is equal, while the towns people disagree and brand him a “nigger lover”. “I do my best to love everyone…I’m hard put, sometimes-baby, it’s never an insult to be called a name that somebody thinks is a bad name”(144). Atticus says this when Scout asks him to help her understand the view, but he is in no way insulted.

names’s Tom Robinson”. Discuss the effects of racism on Maycomb citizens such as Tom and Helen Robinson,

In the novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird," written by Harper Lee, two children learn the roads of life at a young age. Scout and Jem are very educated when it comes down to racial prejudice. Racism was a very big issue in the 1930s, when the novel took place. Blacks were separated from whites. Also, white people would accuse black people of false claims to get them killed. That issue was a big part of “To Kill A Mockingbird”. At the beginning of the book, Scout and Jem were very clueless about racial prejudice. Now, at the end of the book, they are like new people, older and wiser.