Racial Prejudice In The Justice System In To Kill A Mockingbird

It is no surprise that most of America’s black, Hispanic and other minority populations do not trust the criminal justice system. There is little debate on the fact that the system is racially biased. The facts are undeniable. From youth to adulthood, in most cities across the U.S., inequality between races is still present in many aspects of life, even in the Justice System. Unfortunately, justice for some is seen in black and white. African-American and Hispanic youth learn early on that they are not, and will not be, given the same opportunities and privileges as whites. Criminally, even when charged with the same offenses as whites, African-American and Hispanic youth are more likely to receive longer sentences, be tried as adults, be locked in correctional facilities, etc. According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics, the chance of a black male born in 2001 of going to jail is 32 percent, or one in three. Latino males have a 17 percent chance. White males have only a six percent chance. In other words, Latino boys are nearly three times …show more content…

To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of young Scout and her brother Jem. They live in the small, southern town of Maycomb, Alabama during the time of the Great Depression. Their fairly uneventful lives are changed greatly one day when they learn their father, Atticus Finch, an attorney, will be defending Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a black man who has been unjustly accused of raping a white women. Although it is clear to almost everyone that he is not guilty, Tom is convicted by the all white jury. At that time a Negro 's word had no chance against a white man’s, no matter how repulsive and unrespected that white man was. Despite the many changes that have been made to both society and the Justice System since the 1930s, racial bias is not a thing of the