To Kill a Mockingbird

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Growing up in Maycomb County, Scout Finch had found out about the many negative aspects of the people that live there. Scout has been exposed to situations with explicit indications of racism, judgment, and discrimination; and through those experiences, she becomes conscious of the severity and cruelty of the residents of Maycomb. Aspects of Maycomb residents are revealed in some of the events that Scout is involved in. During Scout’s visit to First Purchase African M.E. church, she discovers the impact of discrimination on African-Americans. Dolphus Raymond informs Scout on the judgmental personalities of the people who live in Maycomb, and Scout becomes cognizant of the repercussions of racism and prejudice during the Tom Robinson case in court. Throughout these events, various aspects of Maycomb’s residents are revealed to Scout.

In chapter 12, Scout accompanies Calpurnia to her church, and finds out how severely discrimination affects African-Americans. African-Americans were mostly poor; in terms of social standings, they are very low in comparison to Caucasians. As described in chapter 12, First Purchase church was not in very good condition; the location was inconvenient and the building was in terrible shape. “Negroes worshiped in [First Purchase church] on Sundays and white men gambled in it on weekdays” (Lee, 157). Many church necessities were unaffordable for First Purchase; “There was no sign of piano, organ, hymn-books, church programs—the familiar ecclesiastical impedimenta [Scout and Jem] saw every Sunday” (Lee, 159). On top of that, most African-Americans in that time period had very difficult lives. People who attended First Purchase were required to pitch in and raise money for Helen Robinson, because she was u...

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...act that black men are not always guilty. The racism in Maycomb prevents proper justice from being served, resulting in terribly unfair verdicts.

As Scout grew up in Maycomb, she learned about the people who live in Maycomb. By being exposed to events with explicit discrimination, judgment, and racism, Scout has become aware of the negative aspects of Maycomb residents. Scout’s visit to First Purchase African M.E. church, showed her how discrimination impacts the lives of African-Americans. As justified by Dolphus Raymond, the people who live in Maycomb are awfully judgmental, and the lack of fairness and justice caused by racism affects serious situations, as demonstrated during the Tom Robinson trial. All of these experiences have opened up Scout’s eyes, giving her a better understanding of the residents of Maycomb County, and how negative many people can be.

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