To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: An Investigation of Racism in America

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is well renowned for giving accurate insight on racism in the southern United States in the early twentieth century, an issue that is still controversial in present day. Racism creates inequalities amongst different ethnic groups that have implications on the mental well being of individuals. The culture of racism needs to be put to an end as it is destructive for all members of society.

Racism creates multiple inequalities among society. In this sense, inequality is created when individuals are dehumanized within the justice system when characterized by stereotypes and degrading labels. Bob Ewell’s degrading testimony, “[h]e stood up and pointed his finger at Tom Robinson. ‘—I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!” (Lee, 231), ignores that the justice system’s aim is to give an equal trial for everyone. Instead, Mr. Ewell intentionally chooses to indicate Tom Robinson’s race so to emphasize that Tom is not seen to be as much of a human as the white citizens of Maycomb. Mr. Ewell’s testimony is a prime example of how characterizing one by race leads to inequality under the law. In addition, racists’ prejudice impair the ability to recognize the decency of coloured people, inevitably creating a society in which coloured people are perceived to have a different level of morality thereby rendering them morally inferior. When Tom Robinson testifies that, “I felt right sorry for her” (Lee, 264), instead of interpreting Mr. Robinson’s righteous concern for Mayella Ewell, who has an abusive father, as a compassionate thought, the predominantly white, racist courtroom takes away that a coloured man is pitying a white woman. It is evident in the courtroom that racist views neglect objectivi...

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..., would’ve attacked Tom, thus showing that racism is persuasive enough to overtake one’s humanity and generate unconventional and harmful actions. Furthermore, emotional outbursts during which a racist is oblivious to his actions and surroundings cause those who come in contact with them to lose a sense of security. When Calpurnia reveals that, “[Helen] had to walk nearly a mile out of her way to avoid the Ewells” (Lee, 333), it is made evident that Helen’s sense of security is impeached by Bob Ewell. Like many racists, Mr. Ewell’s hate is capable of becoming a physically threatening, causing the feeling of insecurity when in the presence of psychologically unpredictable xenophobic individuals. In the end, it is made painfully obvious that a plethora of psychological effects on society are direct outcomes of racism that diminish an equal society in it’s entirety.