Despite the generation in which an individual is born no society has escaped the wrath of racism. From the Native Americans in Jamestown to the immigrants of Ellis Island, even today racism continues with the Muslims being accused of 9-11 and other terrorist attacks. Although racism has changed from the early 1800’s to today, it is still present. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the southern town of Maycomb where the citizens struggle with racism, the meaning of courage and family status. The award winning book is told from the point of view of Scout Finch’s, a young girl growing up in the 1930’s. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee racism is displayed by two children building a snowman, the separated churches, and the Tom Robinson trial; to show that the decisions the people of Maycomb make are based on more than one’s personal views.
Racism is part of human nature that they judge each other by looking at the outside view, instead of knowing each other deeply. Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, shows how racism can live in society and control them. A white lawyer named Atticus, takes a case about defending a black man. Tom Robinson is accused by a White women that he raped her. Some white people in Maycomb county turn against Atticus because he is defending the black man. Some of Atticus’ relatives start calling him names about niggers. His neighbor, Mrs.Dubose, insults his kids Scout and Jem by calling him a nigger defender. Bob Ewell and his Daughter Mayella accuses Tom Robinson that he has raped Mayella. This sensitive issue shows how racism can influence humans, that they tend to behave in an evil way until they would be able to control themselves.
“Many people today have encountered racism in some way or form. Maybe someone of a different race was treated unfairly just because they're a different color. Or someone could have been given special privileges because of their race. Dictionary.com defines racism as,”[1] “A belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.” Although racism doesn't appear to have the same effect today, as it would have in the past, it is still a big factor in our world today. This is evident with the scandal with Donald Sterlings remarks about African Americans. To Kill a Mockingbird’s main theme is racism and it was written at a time where racism and prejudice was still a norm in the south. Harper Lee grew up in Alabama so she knew first hand how people felt about African Americans. This book was written in the hopes that people would cease to see the differences in people and come together to see the similarities.
Because of Maycomb’s expectation of unquestioned racism from all Whites, Dolphus Raymond must hide his indifferent view. Epitomizing the extent of Maycomb’s racism, the citizens assume that Dolphus Raymond consumes drugs or alcohol. He “pretend[s]” to constantly drink alcohol in order to “give [the town] a reason” why he views Blacks as equal (268). Furthermore, he states Whites harm Blacks “without even stopping to think that they’re people too” (269). Consequently, Raymond ignores skin color, while Maycomb adheres to a strict view of superiority over all colored people. Therefore, he elucidates the effect of obstinate racism on one’s life while also questioning its
All in all, Harper Lee used racism in her novel to develop the characters in it and relay certain messages, and not history, to the readers and these are the purposes of any literature, which are fulfilled by using specific themes and merging them into one meaningful piece of literature. So, while racism is one of the important themes of the novel, it is not the only theme that the novel is focused on. Therefore, there are some differences between racism in her novel and racism in the United States of America in the 1930s. However, while those differences could affect our comprehension to a certain extent, they should not prevent us from appreciating the novel and the messages that it conveys through racism.
In a nutshell, To Kill A Mockingbird is about racism and prejudice, both themes that have been very harmful to society. These elements have run through society and have been represented equally in the book also. Racism and Prejudice haunt ignorance and vice versa. By writing this novel Harper Lee fought her own battle and raised awareness not only of racial prejudice that occurred in the 20’s and 30’s but also in today’s world.
Harper Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird was set in a state with some of the most intense and significant struggles of the civil rights movement. During the time in those who were black but those who were afflicted with blacks in court were considered inferior. For example in the book Atticus a white lawyer was mocked for defending a black man, Tom Robinson. One person who did mock Atticus was Mrs.Dubose talking to scout saying, “Your fathers no better than the (n-word) and trash he works for!” This book showed the whites perspective of racism being, your black if you like blacks. Harper Lees book To Kill a Mockingbird explained why the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Selma, and the interrogation of public schools show racism.
“Beneath the armor of skin and bone and mind, most of our colors are amazingly the same.” This quote by Aberjhani is very relatable to “To Kill A Mockingbird”. The novel by Harper Lee was published in 1960. The book involves racism, rape, and inequality. A major theme in the book is unfairness. Maycomb County is a small, prejudice town in Alabama. The town is divided between racist Whites, and innocent Blacks. African Americans had no rights and no power in the 1930s. Whites had a lot more rights, and had power over the Black community. From innocent Blacks being killed, court siding with Whites, Maycomb is a very unfair town.
The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a novel about a girl growing up in a white house in the racist town with a father who defends a black man. Throughout the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee develops the theme that even though equality is given to all, if you are different person you are not treated equal. This theme Harper Lee creates still matters because it connects to the real world because even today, as colored people are treated as non equal to the whites, such as the story of Michael Brown and Donald Trump making racial marks on Latinos.
How Harper Lee portrayed the white people's reactions to black people in the story To Kill A Mockingbird emphasized how prominent racial prejudice was during that time period. Before the trial began, the white townsfolk created riots and made backhanded comments to show they discriminated against black people. How the court case was preceded and the outcome showed how even the legislative system, which is portrayed as being fair to all people, showed racism towards Tom Robinson. During the case itself, the actions of black men and white men who did not support racism showed that even white supporters of equality were frowned upon. Harper Lee inserts racial conflicts in the social interactions to show how racism was an innate part of society.