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Recommended: Racism in modern days

“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.
Harper Lee’s story makes the reader connect with the characters on a personal level like not many books can do. The novels first half primarily focuses on Scout and Jems childhood shenanigans and problems. They play games with friends and dread going to school just like any other kid does. The reader will find themselves in these children and be drawn toward the book. The reader is connected and now is where Lee used the kids to send her message. In the second Half of the book, we see Scout and Jem affected by their communities beliefs and social hierarchies. The differences in social status are talked about through much of the book, which constantly confuse th...

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...ghout the whole book. These kids are the perfect instrument for getting her message across and demonstrate to the reader that if they can look past the skin color then adults can too and maybe they will see the similarities between whites and blacks. This book has been one of my favorites of my high school career because of the likeable characters and powerful message.

Works Cited

1."Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird." 123HelpMe.com. 21 May 2014
.

2.SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 20 May 2014.

3."To Kill a Mockingbird Themes." Study Guides & Essay Editing. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014.

[1] https://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=15190
[2] http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mocking/themes.html
[3] https://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=15190
[4] http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/study-guide/major-themes/

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