Impact Of Jim Crow Laws In To Kill A Mockingbird

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In the 1930’s and even today, our country has struggled to overcome the racial injustices of Jim Crow. Since the 1930’s, Jim Crow laws have led to the discrimination that occurs and takes place today. These laws violate the laws of today, with the one-sided, unfair treatment of others. It breaks the law of “All men are created equal.” Nothing has changed since then. In To Kill A Mockingbird, a fictional novel by Harper Lee, it shows the audience the lasting effect of Jim Crow laws in Maycomb, Alabama where the narrator, Scout FInch, slowly understands the rationalization for these laws over the course of her childhood. By evaluating the impact of Jim Crow laws on black rights both in the 1930s and today, it can be determined that these laws …show more content…

Today, blacks are beaten down by the sense of racial injustices continually even though some feel it should be stopped. In chapter 20, Atticus says during his speech, “That all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women”(273). This quote directly hurts the African American community themselves in the sense that he says “all.” Jim crow would agree with this, confirming the inferiority of the blacks. Although, Atticus himself doesn’t believe this, he says it during the trial to furthermore elaborate on the innocence of Tom Robinson. According to PBS.com, “The (Jim Crow) laws affected almost every aspect of daily life, mandating segregation of schools, parks, libraries, drinking fountains, restrooms, buses, trains, and restaurants”(Freedom Riders). The daily life referred to in the quote above talks about today, everyday, and life in the 1930’s. The facilities that blacks were forced to use was worse, compared to those of the whites. The laws said “separate but equal treatment”, but apparently didn’t do so. Everywhere you go, you are moved by the racism seen and heard, because of the Jim Crow Laws of the 1930’s. In chapter 9, a conversation between Scout and Atticus start her (Scout’s) first experience of racism, “Do you defend niggers, Atticus?”I asked him that evening. “Of course I do. Don’t say nigger Scout. That’s common. “‘S what everybody at school says”(85(different book)). Scout goes to school and even in kindergarten, kids already discriminate those for their race. Cecil Jacobs picks on Scout only because Atticus is defending Tom Robinson. When people go to school everyday, they hear plenty of racist remarks and comments, but for some reason, nothing has been done to protect the rights of others. This racism has gone too far, and somehow, no one has done

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