Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

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Recommended: Racism and the development of children

Frederick Douglass, an African-American abolitionist once stated, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Strong children are built through their natural unbiased and just outlook on life, however adults riddled with racism are far gone from creating justice among their unjust nature. Douglass points out that children are stronger built than adults, that they naturally have the capabilities to become great adults in a way that broken and racist adults cannot. Harper Lee also portrays this concept in her novel To Kill A Mockingbird through Jem and Scout’s realization of the injustice and prejudice in their society. Her readers in the 60s are affected with the notation that they live in a society of unjust adults where …show more content…

Young children have the capacities to birth justice throughout their society and their adults. Jem’s unbiased standpoint on the world causes him to create frustration at the slightest injustice that is presented in his town. He is eager to turn his frustration at the injustice of an innocent black man being named guilty because of racial prejudice and turn it into future action by stating, “‘Soon’s I get grown—‘“ (Lee 289). Jem’s altered perception of his society is noticed by his reaction of frustration towards the issue. He is eager to take action, a quality that children only seem to possess. Lee uses Jem’s frustration to give readers a view of a child’s eagerness to bring justice when exposed to the slightest injustice. Jem witnessed the faults of adults, that they are unwilling to plead a black man innocent just because of his race. Lee forces her readers to realize that if a kid is willing to go on a jury to free innocent black men, then why are adults creating such injustice and prejudice against those that are different? In the 60s, readers learn that adults are ignorant and unaware of the …show more content…

Although children in the 60s were bystanders to the hatred around them and can’t necessarily do anything major about them, they still recognize the extent of the hatred in their society, therefore they are more likely to take action when they grow up. Adults were the ones waging war and violence among whites and blacks, they were the humans with bias and prejudice—not children. Today, children are making stands against prejudice because of their awareness of the injustice done in theory society. An article titled “Children take a stand against racism” highlights the influential stand that children took to bring awareness and light to racism in their modern world. Children had the ability to create “brightly colored posters with bold ‘No To Racism’ slogans that encouraged the community to take a stand and and make a difference.” The children lead a campaign to end racism because they were able to recognize the racial beliefs in their community and decided to take action to end it. They choose to stay true to their unbiased and prejudice-free nature and choose love, not racial prejudice. The acknowledge the injustice done to those of color in their community and rather than be bystanders they make a campaign to ensure the development of just societies in their

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