To Kill A Mockingbird Chapter 16 Analysis

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Recommended: Racism past and present

In chapter 16 of To Kill a Mocking Bird, the reader sees that racism during this era goes beyond a black and white skin color dichotomy. People of mixed race experience racism as well. Before the infamous trial of Tom Robinson, Jem explains to Scout what a mixed child is. Jem replies, “Half white, half colored… They’re real sad.” (p.215) Jem then goes on to explain the life of the “tragic mulatto”; this is the life of someone that isn’t accepted anywhere or by anyone. “They don’t belong anywhere. Colored folks won’t have ‘em because they’re half white; white folks won’t have ‘em ‘cause they’re colored, so they’re just in between, don’t belong anywhere.” This quote explains segregation and racism that permeated the deep South during 1930s. …show more content…

Jem said it best, “…around here once you have a drop of Negro blood that makes you all black.” (p. 216) A person with Negro ancestry in his or he lineage was automatically considered to be of lower status than a person of “pure” white ancestry. It was also easier to classify people on skin color to make an easier distinction; this is why some mixed-race people could get away with being classified as white, while others who were of a darker complexion were classified as black. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Dill asked Jem, “How can you tell?” referring to the mixed children of Dolphus Raymond. “He looked black to me.” Jem responded saying, “You can’t sometimes, not unless you know who they are.” If white people wouldn’t accept mulattos, why wouldn’t black people accept …show more content…

Even other characters, like the Ewells, who are seen as outcasts from white society because of lifestyle choices are similar to mixed children. In the 1930s, labels were used to define people. If a person didn’t fit into the labels society had demarcated, he or she didn’t fit in anywhere. Today, people are renouncing and defying categories to define themselves. More people are refusing to categorize their race, ethnicity, religion and sexuality. America is becoming a melting pot of mixed races and identities; they are in between, not belonging

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