Racism and Its Deep Roots in US History

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Racism and Its Deep Roots in US History

Throughout US history, white Americans often viewed the other races (or coloreds) as inferior. Even though slavery had been abolished, laws and practices inhibited the fundamental rights African Americans were entitled to. Thus the mentality of racism and prejudice thoughts had persisted in people’s minds. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Maycomb County, Alabama during the timeframe of the 1930s. Citizens of Maycomb County abide by a set of segregation laws and practices. Maycomb County is a typical homogenized and strictly divided region in southern US. The main character Scout is challenged with concepts regarding morality and ethics when dealing with racism occurring at different levels. Aspects of racism and prejudice whether in the novel or in personal experience greatly influences ones perception and character. Sadly, racism and prejudice judgements are inevitable in any individual’s mind. To this day, legal policies are instituted to prevent integration of Asian Americans in US society. We humans essentially are the same race because we are 99% genetically identical. In To Kill a Mockingbird issues of racism and prejudice occur throughout the novel.

One example of where racism and prejudice obviously occurs in the novel is when a African American man was accused of raping a white girl. Many Maycomb citizens were upset that their state legislature, Atticus had not declined defending case. Before the trial had begun, people in Maycomb had been giving Atticus names and making racist comments. Scout, having gown up in a non-racist family, is alarmed by the fact her classmates and people around her were calling Atticus, an ‘African American lover’. She had almost g...

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... injustices impose, obstacles in future regarding race would be eventually solved and compromised. In To Kill a Mockingbird concepts of racism and prejudice are implied everywhere in all aspects of society in Maycomb County, Alabama. This novel shows that individuals need to be aware that racism and prejudice occur whether in ones mind or judgment, or else injustice will trump moral conscience. Racism and prejudice may be small at first such as verbal abuse and stereotypical claims, however can escalate into horrifying extremes such as lynching’s and possibly reverse discrimination.

Works Cited

"Committee of 100." Committee of 100. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014. .

Fremon, David K.. The Jim Crow laws and racism in American history. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 2000. Print.

Lee, Harper, To Kill a Mockingbird, Warner Books, 1960.

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