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Racial inequality essay to kill a mockingbird
Racial inequality essay to kill a mockingbird
To kill a mockingbird racial inequality essay conclusion
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Racism is a dilemma in our society today. In the old days,during the great depression,. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee racism is shown through Calpurnia’s church,Tom Robinson’s case,and Helen Robinson. Jem and Scout, The main characters in the book,were trusted to go to church alone by themselves by their father Atticus Finch. Calpurnia, the Finch’s cook, took them to church with her so they know that they will behave well. On their way to Calpurnia’s church, they encountered a colored woman named Lula. Lula was not glad to see white children going to their church; and she stated “i wants to know why you bringing white chillun to a nigger church.”(158)The african americans had never received respect from the white folks and Lula has experienced feeling unfortunate because of this cataclysm. What Lula is doing is she is giving the same respect as the white folks gave her to Jem and Scout. Lula is displaying the pester feeling she had repeatedly when she saw the children in the church: “ You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here- they got their church, we ...
Similar to Atticus, Calpurnia takes a stand against racism and believes everyone is equal. Due to Atticus’ and Calpurnia’s morals toward racism, Jem and Scout are heavily influenced by their views, and will most likely take after them. Calpurnia seeks every opportunity possible to educate Jem and Scout that racism is unacceptable. For example, Calpurnia takes the children with her to her black church called First Purchase, and because of this, the children are able to better understand the vast separation of race. Scout learns that not only are white people prejudice, but black people are also prejudice. Most of the negroes at First Purchase were very welcoming as the three entered except for Lula who made them feel unwelcome. "You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here—they got their church, we got our'n” (136). Clearly, Lula is prejudice towards white people, similar to how white people are prejudice towards black people. In addition to these prejudice ways, Scout realizes how differently Calpurnia acts around her folks. Calpurnia stated that talking white folks in her church would be “out of place”, and how “folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do” (143). As a result, Calpurnia talks colored-folks’ at her church so she fits in with everyone else, rather than speaking more advanced, which ultimately shows
The theme of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mocking Bird is the existence of racism and prejudice in the 1930 – 40's. Harper Lee succeeds in presenting the topic in a manner that is not overly simplistic and thus achieves the task of allowing the reader to fully appreciate the complex nature of unjust discrimination. Harper Lee's inclusion of characters such as Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, Dolphus Raymond and many others, aid the reader to grasp the concept of racism and its central role in the town of Maycomb.
Accused of raping a poor white girl, innocent Tom Robinson is now faced with a desperate trial. “The evil assumption-that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber.” (Lee 273). Atticus delivers a powerful speech to the courthouse audience highlighting the disturbing truth of the unfair society. Although there was substantial evidence proving Tom’s innocence against Mayella Ewell, Tom was convicted for the rape the Ewell’s made up to disguise their guilty faults. The stereotypical accusation of the unjustifiable verdict costed Tom his life, when he grew “tired of white men’s chances and preferred to take his own.” (Lee 315). There are always two sides to a story and specifically someone from the black community had their strong opinion on those of the white community. When Calpurnia brought Jem and Scout to her church, they were interrogated by an angered Lula. “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here-they got their church, we got our’n.” (Lee 158). Lula makes a stereotypical judgement, after seeing Jem and Scout she immediately labels them white, and we can infer her thoughts are pulled from her prior knowledge of the stereotypical racist white community. She has never met Jem and Scout yet is quick to group
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee sheds light upon the controversy of racism and justice in his classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The notion of equality in accordance with the law and the pursuit of justice are hindered by racial discrimination. The essence of human nature is pondered. Are we inclined to be good or in the wrath of evil? The novel reflects on the contrasting nature of appearance versus reality.
Even though extraordinary changes have been made in the past to achieve racial equality, America is still racist, especially in schools. In the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” written by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is criticized for defending a black man accused of raping a white woman. During the 1930s, the time this novel took place, America was a very segregated country. At the time when Harper Lee wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird," America was fighting a civil rights movement. The events of racism in “To Kill a Mockingbird” reflect the time period.
In chapter 12 Calpurnia takes the children to her church as Atticus is away. As Calpurnia takes the children up to the front doors of the church most of the blacks’ part and make a pass way for them to walk up. Although there is one person who does not believe that the Finches should be allowed to be in the black church, and she will make sure that her views are known and her name is Lula. Lula said “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillum here-they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church,…”(Lee,119). To this quote the Jem, and Scout are taken back by this remark as they thought that they were welcomed everywhere. In this situation they may not see it but they are being treated like the blacks where they enter the white community. The children find out that later that Lula is the only one that does not want the children at the church and they are welcomed at the church and that only Lula is the only one of the blac...
The war in Vietnam ranged from 1956 to 1975, within these years many unconventional methods of warfare were used, such as “Agent Orange”, guerilla warfare and even events such as the “My Lai Massacre” occurred. The Vietnam War was a proxy war in which the United States fought the North Vietnamese who were backed by the USSR, we did not win the Vietnam war due to a lack of clear goals, and the impossibility to combat the North Vietnamese soldiers who by day were regular civilians but by night were using guerilla attacks on U.S. soldiers. Throughout the Vietnam War our troops and bombs caused large amounts of damage to the land of North and South Vietnam but the most damage was in our own home. Throughout the United States involvement in Vietnam, there were many adverse effects on our own lives, including the large increase of political, social and economic tension. The Vietnam War heightened social, political and economic tensions by causing inflation and a growing budget deficit of the United States. For the social tensions, it caused for the first time people protesting against a war and a lack of faith in the government due to being lied to. And as for political tensions the first lottery draft in history stressed many politicians due to an outraged population.
Racism has been evident all around America, even before this country was officially created over two hundred years ago. Prejudice and racism are not uncommon words in American history, because many disputes, such as war and protests, have emerged from the topic of race. This has been a common practice in the past, and is still a common practice today. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the effects of racism are shown in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s. The effects of racism were very cruel during this time, and Harper Lee reflected this through characters, such as Atticus, Jem, Scout, Mrs. Dubose, Aunt Alexandra, and Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird.
All of the characters have different views on racism. Atticus likes black people and doesn’t have anything against them and he is teaching his children the same. As Scout is growing up, she is starting to understand that discrimination is wrong and she doesn’t understand what black people have done to receive so much negativity because they haven’t done anything to receive it. But then there are others like Bob Ewell and Lula who aren’t so keen on having both races get along. Lula specifically has trouble understanding why Scout and Jem are at church "You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here—they got their church, we got our'n. It is our church, ain't it, Miss Cal?"(Lee 158) when it should not matter what the colour of their skin is. Furthermore, there is of course Tom Robinson who is being accused of rape based solely on the fact that he’s black. His story and Mayella’s do not add up. He does not get may chances to stick up for himself other than the actual trial. Every character has their own opinion on discrimination some being that it’s a horrible thing; others being that it is okay which develops the inequality and diversity in To Kill a
Racism is a belief or doctrine usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has a right to rule others. In today’s society, there is still an issue of racial discrimination that occurs when people treat others differently because of their skin color or ethnicity. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, racism in the southern states of America is very prominent as the townspeople struggle to overcome the effects of the Great Depression. Through the trial of Tom Robinson and a solid description of how the people in Maycomb view African-Americans, the audience can infer that there is a fine line separating the white people from the colored people in the mid 1930s.
Although most discrimination appears as white people against African American people, there is one case where the discrimination appears as African American people against white people. On a Sunday when Jem and Scout’s father, Atticus, is not home, Calpurnia, their cook, takes the two children to her church. Once there they were confronted by a woman named Lula. She is racist against white people, and shows it by saying, “‘I wants to know why you bringin’ white chillun to n***er church’” (Lee 158).
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”-Martin Luther King Jr. This quote shows how racism is like darkness and hate and love and light are the only way to drive racism out. The story takes place at the time of the great depression. Scout lives in a very racist and judgement city in the south. A black male is accused of raping a white woman. Scouts dad Atticus gets appointed to be the defendant's lawyer. Racism is an antagonist in To Kill A Mockingbird because the white people of Maycomb discriminate the blacks and make them feel lesser. The theme racism can be harmful to everyone is shown by many characters throughout the book.
During the book Scout and Jem are at an age were people around them greatly affect their thoughts, views and ideas about the world. Although Atticus tried to raise them to treat Negroes as equals, people around them affected their views on them. A good example is when Dill questioned the seemingly rude way which Mr. Gilmer treated Tom Robinson. Scout replied by saying, "…after all he's just a Negro." (Lee 201). She believes it to be acceptable. This is not something her father put in her head but people in her town. The same also happens in the black community. When Atticus asks Calpurnia to watch his children for him while he is out, Calpurnia accepts and takes the children with her to church, a church for black people. When she arrives with the children, they are greeted kindly except by a few people. These people use the same reason as in the last example as to why they should not be there, because they are white.
The novel TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee has numerous accounts of racism and prejudice throughout the entire piece. The novel is set in the 1930's, a time when racism was very prevalent. Although bigotry and segregation were pointed in majority towards blacks, other accounts towards whites were also heard of, though not as commonly. There are acts that are so discreet that you almost don't catch them, but along with those, there are blatant acts of bigotry that would never occur in our time. Lee addresses many of these feelings in her novel.
“To Kill A Mockingbird” is marvelous and unforgettable novel. Not only show how dramatic, sad in and old town – Maycomb be like, but through her unique writings, some big conflicts about politics and critical is going on through this tired old Southern town. Not just in general like education, friendship, neighbors but also pacific in individuals like family and the people’s characteristics themselves. In one book yet can covered with such many problems, Harper Lee must have been experienced a lot and deeply understanding that time. That is why the book lives, becoming literature and get the love from the audiences a lot. One of the problem and mostly run along with the story and interest me is racism between white people and black people socially.