Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

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.

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

Tom Robinson an innocent, targeted man and a member of Maycomb County had been accused of raping a young girl with an abusive father, her name is Mayella. Atticus defended Tom Robinson and proved his innocence; Mayella continued to twist and lie about the story as her father threatened to beat her, when in reality the father was the guilty one after all; now of course everyone would believe Tom did it, he was a black man with a bad reputation with plenty of twisted rumors that pondered around the town, who would believe he was innocent? No one. Maycomb never thought for a second that a white man would ever do such a thing, even if so a black man would still be targeted due to the racism the town endured.

Prejudice and Racism is most often in the face of fear. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, we see many characters who demonstrate this. Boo Radley is prejudged because he chooses to stay in his domicile and is reclused; Tom Robinson will most likely lose his case not because of true facts but because of his skin colour; and Atticus becomes a victim of prejudice because he chooses to help a black man. There are many cases where we can see that prejudice and racism is most often in the face of fear.

To Kill A Mockingbird was written in 1960 and the story was set in the 1930’s right in the middle of the Great Depression.Throughout the book there is a clear theme of racism, as it was a part of the living culture. Today, eighty-seven years later, there is still racism prevalent in this country. I have heard and read stories of police shootings of unarmed black males. I also recently have begun to understand white privilege and the advantages that are given. These themes are big issues in our society today and around the world.

In the time of To Kill a Mockingbird, people’s views on others were very unjust, as they judged people solely on the color of their skin or the clothes that they wore, rather than their personality or past experiences. This racist approach took place not only in everyday lives, but it took a high seat in courtrooms. The judgemental views on people took the seat of the judge when it came to deciding the fate of the person at hand. However, this acumen is not exclusive to the time period of the novel, but it takes place in trials today. As time has gone on, society’s discernment on people has changed, but it is still there. Because of differing racial views and ideas in society from the time period of To Kill a Mockingbird to present day, there are numerous differences and similarities to how it would develop in the current time period including such concepts as racism, sexism, and other similar biases that affect a person’s thoughts on the subject at hand.

Harper Lee’s coming-of-age story reminds readers how far society has come. In the time period in which the novel is set, society faced many issues involving racism and discrimination. Now in the 2000’s the world doesn't focus on the colour of one’s skin but the person it carries. Harper Lee effectively represents African-American history in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Throughout the novel Lee shows how racism negatively affected Maycomb County’s population by utilizing major themes including racial discrimination and the right to a fair trial. Lee’s novel has a similar story to multiple cases in the early 1900’s as well as showing links to the troubles the town faced with the Great Depression and social standings.

America, so far, has come a long way since slavery and the discrimination against other races. After the days of slavery past, America has become a more positive and equal place to live in. But even though it may seem like America is a place of equality, we still have a long way to go before America reaches true equality. In the book we have been reading, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are many examples of racism that sexism that has stuck with America throughout the years. The way that America is heading, our country will never truly achieve racial and social equality.

In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee was set in times of the Great Depression about a little girl named Scout and her family and friends and her growing in that time. The book explored the ideas of civil rights and the problem of racism. Scout's father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer in the town of Maycomb in Alabama. In this story a big court case goes on involving a black man and a white family. Atticus is the defending lawyer of Tom Robinson, the black man in the case. Him defending this black man made a big upset in the highly racist town, to the point where his children were starting to be called many different racial slurs. Another big occurrence in the book is the mystery of Boo Radley being revealed. This book has many different values to learn from and is set in a very racial time.

According to Merriam - Webster dictionary, prejudice is defined as “a preconceived judgement or opinion”. Now, since it’s known worldwide that ever since African Americans stepped foot in the U.S. , segregation was placed upon them simply because of the color of their skin and is a prime example of prejudice. The unfair and violent treatment of blacks never quite stopped up until recent times. This type of unjustified segregation and discrimination can be seen all throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee. The prejudice inclined portrayal of the black community is reflected by the way Aunt Alexandra feels towards Calpurnia, the Tom Robinson case, and Jem and Scouts experience in the black church.

“But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (1 John). Racism has been present in all societies long before America to some degree, crippling people’s ability to seize opportunities. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, race in Maycomb determines a predominant role in the path one’s life will take due to biases in the town. This idea presents itself in both how the people treat and accept each other in the book and the recurring treatment in today’s world.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary the definition of racism is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. To Kill a Mockingbird portrays the way racism can affect a community. In the small town of Maycomb racism takes a toll on the daily lives of the town’s citizens.

Racism, sexism, religious and social discrimination; these are some of the major types of prejudice that are very evident in society.  In To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, there are many instances where prejudice is exposed to the reader in many shapes and forms.  Two of the most perceptible are economic discrimination and racism, especially at the end of the novel.  From Walter Cunningham, a poor country boy of Maycomb, to Tom Robinson, a kind humble African- American citizen, tons of prejudice is revealed slowly to the reader.

For hundreds of years, white men spurned African Americans and viewed them as inferior. Africans led poor, humble lives, for they remained enslaved, while many Caucasians enjoyed comparatively wealthy and prosperous lives. Although the thirteenth amendment abolished slavery over fifty years before the Great Depression ensued, the time period surrounding To Kill a Mockingbird, prejudice against those with different skin colors remained evident. Black people continued to work for white people, and many looked with disdain upon individuals who stood up for African Americans. Also, the bias toward Caucasians resulted in unjust court outcomes. Racism exists as a prominent theme throughout Harper Lee’s masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird, as demonstrated by the lifestyle of the African Americans, the partiality opposing those who defended them, and the instance of the Tom Robinson case.

Race, a group of people of common ancestry, distinguished from others by physical characteristics, such as hair type, colour of eyes and skin, stature, etc. It seems that race is to right in the middle of problems these days. Racism is a very big problem in everyday life, it shouldn’t be a problem at all, but unfortunately, people don’t see others how they really are. They assume just by looking at a color. Author Harper Lee of To Kill A Mockingbird, took real-life race problems and used them as inspiration. These connections are Jim Crow laws, mob mentality, and the famous Scottsboro trials.