Our Courts All Men Are Created Equal

Atticus is a man with morals. When he sees a person, white or black in need of justice he is always there to help, no matter the cost. In Maycomb County when a black man is on trial he is automatically seen as guilty. When Atticus was chosen to defend Tom Robinson many of the people in the community took it upon themselves to pay him a visit. It was understood by everyone that Tom had no chance and some of the men in the county went to Atticus to see if he would drop the case. Atticus knows though that Tom is innocent and deserves to have a fair trial. “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going until the truth’s told” (Lee 146) . Atticus demands justice no matter who it is or what they’ve been accused of. He understands what needs to be done to give those who have been wrongly accused an honest hearing.

The outcome of a trial between a white and a black person will always favor towards the white. No matter what logic and reason the black person pulls, he will always lose the trial. During a trial, a decision should be made base on laws. However, Atticus has come to the realization that judgements are made by the color of one’s skin as oppose to the law.

Atticus is reading a book when it says.. ”Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country, our courts are the great levelers, but in this country our courts all men are created equal”(Lee, 274). In this quote, it mentions that our courts do have their mistakes but all men are created equal in the courts which means the only time a black man or women is the same as a white man or women. Mr. Raymond and Dill are having a conversation about white people and colored folks. “ Cry about the hell white people colored folks, without stopping to think that they're people too.”

Atticus mentions that Mayella, “‘Was white, and she tempted a negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man…’”(Lee 272). The quote links to the theme because the author uses rhetorical devices. Atticus uses parallelism to help organize his idea and to make it memorable. The lawyer also points out that, “‘But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal… It can be the Supreme Court of the United States’” (Lee 274). The character uses credible sources to prove everyone that he did thorough research and that he actually cares about the life of his client. The author’s justification shows that the United States was created as a result of equality, but clearly, the idea never got around as a result of the racial

The case of Tom Robinson was a case on whether he would be guilty for rape or not. Tom Robinson had the defendant, Atticus, with their opponents, the Ewells. Throughout the case you are able to see many different cases where Atticus made it obvious that Tom did nothing wrong and it would have been obvious that Bob Ewell would have been a likely suspect to commit the crime of rape against her daughter, Mayella. The trial showed that the justice system has flaws and doesn’t represent justice, people only make choices based on their racist views.

“All men are created equal”, one of the most ignored statements that our founding fathers wrote in the Constitution. People exercise prejudice everywhere in the U.S. Prejudice is a topic that is constantly revisited in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Her novel focuses on Scout, the daughter of Atticus Finch, living her life in the 1930s of rural Maycomb, Alabama. Scout witnesses the injustice and prejudice against many people, not only Negroes. The heat of prejudice rises when Atticus decides to defend Tom Robinson, a black who is going under trial for allegedly raping a white girl. Despite the clear evidence that Robinson is innocent,

Atticus uses historical references in the section of his speech when he is talking about not all men were born under equal circumstances but how they should get an equal and fair trial without the pressure of social traditions, like racism, influencing the facts. “Thomas Jefferson once said that all men are created equal, a phrase that the Yankees and the distaff side of the executive branch in Washington are fond of hurling at us” (Atticus Finch). In order to persuade the jury that Tom Robinson was innocent, Atticus uses this historical reference to help explain that Tom Robinson should get a fair trial no matter his race. “But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal- there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president” (Atticus Finch). Atticus goes on to say that there is one way in this country in which all men are equal, and that is a court.

First, Atticus Finch is selected to represent Tom Robinson, an innocent black man accused of rape, in court. Furthermore, Atticus Finch recognizes the deep prejudice and unlikelihood of justice for Tom Robinson: "There's something in our world that makes men lose their heads -- they couldn't be fair if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins.” (Lee 224) In this quote, especially through the phrase “They couldn’t be fair if they tried,” Atticus emphasizes the clear improbability of fair justice due to the deep-set racist bias prevalent in Maycomb County. Furthermore, by saying “When it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins,”Atticus predicts that racism will unfortunately prevail in this case. Earlier in the novel, Atticus recognizes that he will lose the case because of Tom Robinson’s race, but he still represents Tom Robinson as an innocent man, not by his race. As Atticus predicted, racial bias prevailed over dignity and reason, and Tom Robinson, an innocent man, is considered to be guilty later in the novel. Therefore, Atticus Finch fails to acquit Tom Robinson, but the factors on why are apparent.

For him, like many other real-life Negroes in American history, the principles underpinning political, social and criminal justice failed. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus’ belief that, “in our courts all men are created equal,” ( p. 209) makes a complete mockery of the judicial system.

Someone's race should not define who they are as a person and make them feel lesser than anyone. Atticus tells the court that it is a simple decision that does not require much thought, because of both of their identities. Based on the way they already treat blacks in their community it would be hard to get people to think that the black man is telling the truth over the white woman “ To begin with, this case should have never been brought up, it's as simple as black and white” (pg.231) Atticus shares that under these conditions and the basic fact that it is black vs. white, male vs. woman shows that there isn't any hope for Tom Robinson winning this case. Atticus knows what society is like and the big racial division. It is shameful to think that someone's race and the color of their skin can make an instant decision how they act, what they're like, and their background.In their society, it is normal for them to discriminate black people. Atticus is trying to get the message out that a white woman's word would pass by easier than a black man's word, having white jurors is bias. In the trial of Emmett Till it's blacks against whites, and like Tom Robinson, they already have a big disadvantage especially because both judges are white. Emmett's mother said that she could already feel that the whole courtroom was against them before it has even started, she had already gotten a sense of what she was getting into and that there was no

As the case went on and the evidence started to get pieced together, Atticus’s argument for Tom got stronger. But when the jury decided that he was guilty Atticus truly was expecting this outcome, he knew the ignorance and the pride of the people in Maycomb. For example, on page 243, it states, “Its not time to worry yet, Atticus reassured him, as we went to the dining room. We’re not through yet. There’ll be an appeal, you can count on that.” He is still hopeful that Tom has a chance. After he put all the evidence together and made the whole town realize the truth about this trial, he has faith that Maycomb will make the right decision the second time around. While in court giving his speech Atticus opened up a closed door to the people of Maycomb and the jury to make them realize a minor detail that they didn’t really look into. In addition to, on page 232 it states, “You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not trusted around women- black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, …” Atticus wanted to make sure that they knew all men were made equally regardless of race. Since Tom Robinson was a black man majority of them instantly assumed he was guilty. Never has a black man beat a white man in court and they want it to stay that

In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life. " This can represent the good in the men that were a part of the jury as they are reasonable, but also show evil in that they can't make the decision to be fair, and will convict Tom on the sole grounds that he is black. Atticus is a character who understands that, rather than humans simply expressing good or evil, most people have both good and bad qualities and while it is important to appreciate the good

Imagine being a black man in the 1930’s having a wife and children but gets pulled out of your house and gets charged with a capital offense. But now you are in a courtroom with an all white jury, judge and even your lawyer is white knowing that you are innocent but you already know your faith. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem and Scout is the son and daughter of Atticus, an intelligent man whose role in Maycomb County is a lawyer. The 1930’s will be viewed from innocent six year old Scout as she grows up in the small town filled with hate, penetrating her innocents but Atticus taught his children right. But when a case comes up for Atticus to defend a black man on a capital offense of raping a white woman sparks hate around

In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the most significant themes is race and social class cause inequalities. For example, when the jury was deciding Tom Robinson’s verdict, Jem was convinced that Atticus had won the trial and Tom Robinson would be found innocent. But, Reverend Sykes knew that that would not happen. Reverend Sykes said that he had never “‘seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man…’” (111). The racism in the south was so deep, even if you compared the lowest class of white people, like the Ewells, to African Americans, the Ewells were considered better. Even juries, which are supposed to be fair, still showed racism and hatred towards African Americans. The justice system is designed

Atticus’ closing remarks to the jury was that in the court of law, bias and prejudice should be put aside so that everyone can properly treated with equality and fairness.