Racial Changes In To Kill A Mockingbird

Ever since the humans have been separated into different ethnic groups racism has existed on Earth. The idea of racism has existed since the beginning of time but today racism is not as prominent as it once was but it still lives. Racism is kept alive through microaggressions or the eununciating of an offensive and racist comment. During the Great Depression, racism was in its prime, Harper Lee’s renown novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, brings the ideology of racism to light. Throughout the novel, Lee delivers a powerful message on the topic of racism which is the white community’s racist mindsets about black people has caused colored people to be unjustly tried in court, be dehumanized, and receive unnecessary hostility constantly by the white

How does racism affect a story? As a kid in the 1930s, Harper Lee grew up when there was hardly any equality for African Americans. Harper Lee’s only novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is heavily based off of prejudice and racism from her childhood. In her book, she writes about racial discrimination through the eyes of a six year-old girl, named Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch, during the Great Depression. Her and her family are deeply tied into racism and prejudice involved throughout this story. Racism in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is ever apparent as the story is located in a small southern town in Alabama; it is reflected upon three of the main characters: Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch, Jem Finch and their father, Atticus Finch.

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

Racism these days is rarely spoken about, which leaves some people believing that we now live in a world full of peace. But that’s hardly the case, racism still, and I have no doubt that it always will be around, simply because there are people in this society who have adopted beliefs that black people will never be eligible to equal rights as what white people have.

Martin Luther King said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Racism is still an issue that can be seen in the twenty-first century. Although, tons of progress has been made over the last century, some still hold on to racist beliefs. The majority of classic American literature demonstrates the racism that was present in the early twentieth century. By looking at the theme of race in the American classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, it is clear that people are quick to judge others based on their own opinions and feelings.

“Prejudices are the chains forged by ignorance to keep men apart.”(Marguerite Gardiner Blessington). Over the years, countless people have fallen in to the dark abyss of prejudice because they merely following the trend of society. Prejudice is exactly what it sounds like; its root words are firmly planted. Prejudice may be defined as the act of pre judging someone because of their race, religion, sex, ethnic background, or can be based solely on how they look. Prejudice is a flaw in society many have dealt with for centuries, but one race has suffered in the United States of America where “all men are equal”, more than any other race in history. If all men are created equal, how could we treat people of a different color so unjustly? It is a travesty that cannot be forgotten and that can not, must not, and shall not be repeated. In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee states the truth behind a world with closed minds. She put the world into perspective through her commentary that is still relevant today. Through her writing, we see the compassion, sympathy, and tolerance, or the lack thereof, from all perspectives: a father, a racist man, a confused woman, children, negroes, and a dear lawyer named Atticus Finch.

In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she reveals that society enforces strong racial boundaries, and when one is only associated with another of a different race they are labelled as strange and regarded as an outsider. In the story, young Scout Finch learns life lessons from her father Atticus, a lawyer in their small town, Maycomb. Throughout the novel many people disapprove of Atticus for his job since he defends black people and for the way he raises his children to accept everyone no matter their skin color. Scout is often taunted and picked on for her dad’s profession at school and even by relatives; at Christmas time, their cousin, Francis, humiliates Scout for having “a [negro]-lover” as a dad and describes how it “[mortifies]

In the midst of the most progressive era in the history of the United States, people seem to be choosing to compare their current situation with the one in the 1930’s, where most African Americans were dehumanized. Women and Blacks have had a history of patronization which is displayed throughout To Kill A Mockingbird. Even though there are some disagreements in certain subject matter between the races today, relations and ideals of injustice have evolved.

Racism is a very controversial topic in today’s society. Some might think racism ended when the 15th amendment was passed and black men were able to vote, but some people still face racism in today’s society. With the new presidential leader, minorities are being more and more ostracized. Racism is no longer just “black and white”. Rather, it is a gray area where racism is no longer clear to all people.

Prejudice, the chain of hatred and ignorance, has haunted our history at every step. In the twenty-first century prejudice and its destruction can be viewed in many forms of modern literature. Two of the most famous and rejoiced literatures that examine the theme of prejudice are Harper Lee’s realist fiction novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and Martin Luther King’s heart warming speech ‘I Have a Dream’. Both texts explore the theme of prejudice of white Americans on the Blacks in the racially tense times of the early twentieth century. Unlike Harper Lee, Martin Luther King goes a step further to persuade the audience that there is prejudice present and we should be motivated to stop this evil from blossoming in our world.

In 1619 Negros were brought to America as slaves. For 246 years they worked under the hot southern sun, enduring whippings, hunger, and families were separated. Some escaped to the North, but had to undergo many trials concerning equality. In 1865 all Negros were finally released from their enslavement, but the racism towards them didn’t disappear overnight. Racial discrimination is evident in many elements that affect health, including social status and employment because racism is one of the main barriers in our society to the attainment of health care. Employers, co-workers, and peers may favor one or more people over African Americans because of their skin color. In To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), the racism towards Negros is prominent. According to Westport News, a firm based Connecticut that informs the community with local, relevant and timely news:

Imagine you are stranded on an island and forget who you are and how you look; the only thing you know is that you are hungry. Suddenly, a man appears in the distance staring at you and approaches you with food. You ask him for some, but he does not reply. You beg and beg and realize that he walks past you as if you are invisible. Then you see your reflection in a pond and come to realize that your face is black. It is the twenty-first century, but nothing has changed. Distress and lack of awareness is what preserves racial discrimination as of this day. In Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” racism is not simply a product of hatred and prejudice; in fact, it is exhibited through ignorance and fear. More precisely, ignorance in society’s wrongful

It has long been believed that by the end of segregation and slavery, racism too had died. However, this could not be farther from the truth. Racism has never truly died; it was simply kept hidden. Present day racism can be found in the forms of job denial, racial profiling, and cultural appropriation. Members of all non-white races such as African Americans, Asians, and Native Americans experience modern racism in their own way. Time may have moved forward, but not everyone’s thought processes have advanced with it. Racism is still alive, though in some ways not as blatant, and being actively portrayed throughout the United States.

Abraham Joshua Heschel once said “ Racism is man’s gravest threat to man- the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.” Heschel is demonstrating that there is a lot of hate for such miniscule reasons. This belief is popular theme within in literature. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird a community’s morals and beliefs regarding race, gender and compassion determines that justice is a privilege for a few rather than a right for all. While some characters are immaculate, morally educated,and believe that every person should be reverenced, and treated equally, some believe that it is correct to be racist and prejudice to others.

Rosa Parks, civil rights activist said “Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome”. Racism is a real issue and it's not going away. We may not be able to change it now but it is our jobs as a society to prepare our future generations to face this issue. Racism is the brutal and unkind treatment of blacks like Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird he was unfairly convicted of a crime because he was a black man accused of raping a white woman.