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Massive amounts of people find it hard to believe that the “N” word is harmless. Little that they know, it inflicts a great deal of mental damage to the victim. Like when Mrs. Dubose stated to Scout, “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” (Lee 135). Racism has affected the world in numerous ways back in the day resulting in racial inequality. One race is just suddenly better than another and so on. In To Kill A Mockingbird, racial inequality is stated everywhere and a lot of the population in Maycomb, Alabama back in the 1930’s have to do with racism. Towns people live up to keeping their race at the top and other in line. But, this is where Atticus Finch steps up and takes charge; he believes that everyone has a right and will teach his children the right way and make sure their minds are corrupt. America has a lot to own up to, importing slaves, selling slaves killing and torturing slaves. Alabama is just one of those places in America that used to support that before we all had equal rights. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Tom Robinson was convicted of rape, did he do it, certainly no but because he was colored he was accused of and guilty. In the novel, we go back to a time where racial inequality played a great part in history. Whites had more power over blacks and it stayed that way. Mrs. Dubose, a main character loved throwing the ‘”N” word on the table all of the time, a young lady and her father a nigger-lovers just because they didn’t mind colors. Scout asks Atticus a question, “Atticus, what exactly is a nigger-lover?” Atticus’s face was grave. “Has someone been calling you that?” Scout retorts with, “No sir, Mrs. Dubose calls you that. She warms up every afternoon call you that. Francis called ... ... middle of paper ... ...ong prevails but the right will never stop fighting to regain territory. The ignorant and the knowledgeable, over time other races seem to want to have control over others and prevail but soon enough, the losing side will turn over and equal everything out. Just as in today’s world, we all have equal rights in race. Racism took place in To Kill A Mockingbird and was based on facts. Scout learned that everyone is equal and everyone has a chance. Atticus was spreading good and reasoning when the others were spreading bad news; even Jem fell for their dirty tricks. For the reason Scout asked the question of why they are called nigger-lovers, Atticus clears up all of the fog in her mind and spreads enlightenment. Works Cited Grand Central Publishing; New York, New York 1960; Harper Lee To Kill A Mockingbird http://voices.yahoo.com/racism-kill-mockingbird-5499955.html
Naylor implies that derogatory terms have a twist and are a disguise of acknowledgement to her race. Although it was initially created to humiliate and dehumanize African Americans, ‘the n-word’ develops into a word that admires men of that race.
“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle,” says the great Martin Luther King Jr. In the book To Kill a MockingBird by Harper Lee we see similar struggle that Dr. King battled. Atticus Finch is the only one in the small town of Maycomb willing to admit an african american might not actually be to blame. It was Atticus and Tom Roberson against Maycomb. Throughout Atticus’ interaction with the people of Maycomb he shows people the truth about equality and helped with racism. In the end we learn that it takes courage and a hard shell to beat racism, and breaking down a barrier of society can put a lot of struggle and challenge on one person.
Dispersed throughout To Kill A Mockingbird are numerous illustrations of racism. Statements such as "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for" (Lee 108) are common throughout the entire novel. The use of racist statements such as these seemed to bother many people who were then driven to ban Lee's book from their schools. If we look back to the times when the book was written, we can understand the use of the word "nigger." During the early twentieth century, the word "nigger" was used as commonly as many people today use the word "black." The general public either didn't realize or didn't care about how demeaning the word "nigger" was. Eventually, some African-Americans became so used to hearing it that they no longer paid any attention to it. Atticus Finch, Scout's father, however, had a different way of thinking. Although Atticus was Caucasian, he realized that the word "nigger" was wrong to say. He did not use that word and he instructed his children not to use that word either. This courtesy did not catch on. People continued to refer to African-Americans as "niggers" and called anyone who was kind to "niggers" a "nigger-lover." Scout realized this and, as she matured, she came to understand how wrong the use of the word "nigger" actually was.
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 spread like a disease through the town and children walked around easily calling blacks derogatory terms. One day after school Scout came home and explained to her father how her day went. She said that the children were calling Atticus a nigger lover. Scout addressed, “You aren’t actually a nigger lover are you?” (Lee, 124). Her father, shocked at first, replied informatively, “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody" (Lee, 124). What Atticus meant, was that he tries to be kind to everybody no matter their skin color. Scout does not realize that calling blacks “niggers” is bad, and that you have to call them “negroes”. A reader of this novel could infer that Scout did not know that she cannot use that word because she hears kids at schools say it all the time. All of this indirectly relates to Tom and how he was a black man that was constantly being taunted by hateful terms because he was just there, like a mockingbird. He never fought back, instead he stayed
Racism is wrought within the whole story. For example, even though Calpernia is a female, Aunt Alexandra overlooks her good work because of her race (p. 129). Blacks, because they are considered inferior, are expected to do everything for whites. People are so biased it doesn’t matter how well a job a black person does they are still frowned upon. Furthermore, the jury declares Tom Robinson guilty even though the evidence is clearly in his favor (p.211). A human being has more color pigment in their skin so it is assumed they are guilty without question; truth is never a factor. It is easy to associate the mockingbird symbol to Tom Robinson, a harmless man who becomes a victim of racial prejudice. The Maycomb community are trying to make a fool of them selves by believing they are model citizens and good Christians, even though a small number amongst them know that they are wrong to persecute and hate due to color.
In the 1930’s many African American men were wrongly accused of rape and murder. The issue of racism is brought up in the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” when Scout overhears her teacher saying that it's a great thing that this is happening to Tom Robinson because the black men are getting too comfortable thinking that they’re mighty. Racism didn’t only affect Tom Robinson, but it also affected those who supported him. The lives of Scout and her family are changed when Scouts father who is a lawyer, steps in and defends Tom Robinson. Atticus’ lawsuit affects Scout and his children in several ways. As kids who were raised to respect everyone, and not judge people by their race they seem to be the outcast in school because of this. The children in Scouts, school are not accustomed to people respecting African-Americans and as a result they taunt and harass Atticus’ children. As a result of the violence towards Scout, Scout responds to violence with violence. However, Atticus is not happy with the way Scout is handling her problems. Racism is a reoccurring theme throughout the course of the story and affects all of the main characters in several ways. Maycomb as a whole is affected because of racism and many become outcasts such as in Mrs.Dolphus Raymond's
A small city nestled in the state of Alabama, Maycomb has got its faults, just like any other place in the world, but one of its main faults or (pg.88) “Maycomb's usual disease,” as Atticus calls it in the book is prejudice. Jem and Scout learn a lot about prejudice when a black man named Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell and their father, Atticus, is called on to be his lawyer. They realize the hate that people have buried deep within their heart when they see a black man accused of doing something only because of his color. On pg.241, Scout starts understanding this and thinks, “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” As the case continues, up until the death of Tom Robinson, Jem and Scout learn more and more about prejudice and how the hate that people have towards others causes them to take wrong actions. They also see how unfair it is that a white man can get treated better and think of himself better than a black man only because he was born white. This prejudice and the trial cause Jem and Scout to get in argum...
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird depicts the story of an egalitarian man living in a racially prejudiced society. In the town of Maycomb, Alabama, most people are racist towards African Americans, leaving only a few people believing that racism is unethical. Atticus Finch, a respected man, fights for the equality of a colored man in a trial. In addition, he also looks upon his children as if they were his peers. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee portrays Atticus Finch as egalitarian to establish that when one is faced with unjust circumstances, then one should overcome hindrances and do what is honorable in order to reveal oneself as respectable in society.
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.
When it comes to the use of the “N-word”, “nigger”, most of us will readily agree that it is derived from negativity. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of is this word appropriate and should it be a part of our vocabulary today. Many feel like this word is okay to use but there are some that disagree.
Few people are the same as they are on the street in their homes. Few people can treat others equally; no matter what colour their skin is. Atticus Finch is one of those precious few. Racism in the town of Maycomb is nothing but disguised by the polite smiles and ladies missionary meetings; although it is the strongest belief that each person of the town holds apart from some such as Atticus. Racism is an issue of great importance, yet to the eye of a visitor waltzing through, it's just a slight whisk of air.
“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.
Racism is a very apparent problem in all of the world, but especially in the southern states in America. Atticus Finch is the kind of man who will defend anyone not because he gets paid, but because he knows it is the right thing to do. Atticus says, “The one places where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carving their resentments right into a jury box” (Lee 252). Additionally Atticus states, “Whenever a white man cheats a black man like that, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he come from, that man is trash” (Lee 252). Atticus shows to all the people of the Jury and Maycomb that he is pro-human rights, by defending Tom Robinson like no other human would. Atticus also brings up
In today’s America, the idea of equality is widespread, on the contrary, racism was very common in the 1930s. That is the America where Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, takes place. The story follows a young girl, Scout, and her brother, Jem, who struggle to understand the notions of their neighbors in Maycomb, Alabama. This specifically came to importance when their father, Atticus Finch, a Lawyer, defends a black man, Tom Robinson, who was charged with the assault of a white female named Mayella Ewell. Many, including his children, wondered why he would defend Tom Robinson. However, Atticus is a firm believer of the golden rule and to him, it did not matter that there was a large chance of losing the case as long as he tried. He is also moral so considering all of these reasons, it made sense for him to defend Robinson.