Examples Of Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

Eeny meeny miny moe, catch a nigger by it’s toe, if it squeals let it go, eeny meeny miny mo. This well known nursery rhyme would never have raised an eyebrow in the 1930s, but would cause complete mayhem today!!! Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird” set in Maycomb county is arguably one of the most thought-provoking books of the century. Throughout the book, the wide range of characters experience different prejudices that haunt them in their everyday existence. These discriminations are brought to life through the thoughts and actions of Jean Louise Finch (also known as Scout), the main ones being socioeconomic and racial. We learn that while standing up against prejudice can lead to persecution in the short term, the long term effects

can be profoundly meaningful.

Throughout the Southern States of America, the 20th century was flooded with racist beliefs, which lead to implicit discrimination and severe disadvantage for blacks.

The county of Maycomb is a prime example of a town which was ruled by racial prejudice. The white folks of the town automatically assumed the worst of any black person, disregarding facts and evidence. This is highlighted throughout the court case of Tom Robinson on trial for raping a white girl but is obvious in everyday life as well. Whilst talking to Jem and Scout about the outcome of the case, Atticus admits “In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins.” Inclusive language has been used in this bold statement to emphasize how a white man is superior no matter what circumstance. This amplifies prejudice based on skin colour, which was also carried into the courtroom “but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box."-Atticus. This racial bias overshadowed all decisions and views held by the Maycomb society resulting in

black people not getting a fair say or being treated equally. While Jem was talking to Miss Stephanie about Boo Radley she recounted “The sheriff hadn’t the heart to put him in jail alongside Negroes, so Boo was locked in the courthouse basement.” Colloquial language was used in this quote to show how commonplace it was for a white man to be separated from a black man. This shows the privileges given to white people, as Boo was guilty for breaking the law yet he still received special treatment. By segregating the men based on colour the Sheriff showed clear racial prejudice against black men. This ingrained belief that whites are better than blacks was the customary and accepted way of life for these folks and made life unjust and tougher for all black members of this society.

Maycomb was a town based on a social hierarchy and rigid class structure, which lead to prejudice and often hatred towards people of the lower classes. People were born into these social rankings, from which it was difficult to escape. Prejudice throughout the town segregated society into four different classes; the blacks at the bottom, the ‘white trash’, the country folk and the white collar upper class. Whilst Scout was talking to aunt Alexandria about Walter Cunningham Aunt Alexandria said ““The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem.” Imagery has been used to show how Jem will always be superior to Walter, no matter how he dresses or how clean he looks. This quote portrays how socio-economic prejudice was so evident and seemed unable to be changed, therefore leaving Walter Cunningham forever below Jem in status no matter what he attempted. Further proof of this is near the end of the book where Jem concluded “There’s four kinds of folks in the world. There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes.” Listing is used to show Jem’s clear cut understanding of the different types of towns folk in Maycomb. This quote told from a child’s innocent perspective leaves no doubt to the explicit social rankings separating the town and that everything depended on which family you were brought into. Through this we get a better understanding of how prejudice was fueled, even from a young age. Socio-economic prejudice is widely seen and felt because of this class pyramid in Maycomb which helped to maintain their sense of security but divided the town into four distinctive groups.

Speaking out against prejudice is not easy and can sometimes lead to being judged or possible harm.

The short term effects of taking a moral stance and listening to one's conscience may seem small, but the long term outcome could be far reaching. Take Atticus for example, he stood up and built a strong case for a black man in a society which was filled with prejudice towards negroes. Generally in the case of a black man, the jury’s decision would have been made in minutes. Instead Atticus’s statement made them deliberate for hours. Although he knew he wasn’t going to win the case, this outcome was still a step in the right direction. He faced criticism and hatred, yet he still proved a black man's innocence in the eyes of most of the town. Nelson Mandela is another classic example of a man who took initiative and stood out against racial prejudice towards blacks in the 1900s. He fought against the South African government to stop racial prejudice and bring racial harmony to South Africa. Yet he got sentenced to 27 years in jail for doing so. After serving his time Mandela became president of South Africa and established the ‘Truth and reconciliation commission of South Africa’ for the victims of racism and racial prejudice. We learn from these two individuals that any one brave person can make a significant difference to society. Sometimes all it takes is a seed to be planted in people's minds for change to begin. Although at times efforts to speak out seem futile, the

outcome can still have strong impact.

To Kill A Mockingbird criticises the strong beliefs held by the different levels of society in the town of Maycomb. The clear social ranking divides the town, creating prejudice towards each class. Racial prejudice also features heavily throughout the book, showing us the lack of rights for black people in this era. It is clear that speaking up against prejudice is difficult but necessary if change is to take place.
To Kill A Mockingbird was recently cited by the American Library of Congress to be second only to the Bible, as the book that has made a difference to people's lives. As Jesus said “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”