Your Topic: Social Inequality/Social Ladder
Your Theme: Injustice can be caused by racism through social values and social inequality.
Quotes from TKAM:
"Scout," said Atticus, "n****r-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything—like snot-nose. It's hard to explain—ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It's slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody”(Lee 112).
"Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted
The ruling was decided by an all-white jury which had resulted in Plessy losing because of his race. Plessy was called an African American despite being ⅞ white. He had volunteered to test the Separate Car Act of 1890. The Separate Car Act of 1890 segregated public transportation between white people and colored. Plessy was put under custody for sitting in the white cargo of a public train. Plessy soon lost his case in the Supreme Court, with the white judges claiming “separate but equal”. Plessy lost the controversial case wholly due to his race (despite being ⅛ black). We can also see this type of racial injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson (an African American man who is a field worker) is accused of raping a Mayella Ewell (a white girl). Tom testifies to the court and is cross examined by Mr. Gilmer (the lawyer leading the prosecution). At one point in the trial, Tom states: “I felt sorry for her ”(Lee 201). Mr. Gilmer immediately exclaims: “You felt sorry for her... The damage was done… nobody liked Tom Robinson’s answer”(Lee 201) Tom’s answer of feeling sorry for a white girl had “demonetized” his case. According to Southern stereotypes or “rules”, a black person was not supposed to feel sorry or have feelings towards a white person in any way since white people were the "dominant" and “supreme” race and therefore had no need of assistance from a "shoddy" race (the African American race) . Because of this, it is evident that Tom’s case was doomed by his race, much like how Plessy’s case was doomed because of his race as
“As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash” (Atticus) chapter 23.
One's identity is a very valuable part of their life, it affects the Day to day treatment others give them which can lead to how the individual feels emotionally. Atticus, defending Tom Robinson, who is an african american man from the plaintiff of the case, Mayella Ewell, who is a caucasian woman, accusing that Tom raped her is supposivly a lob sided case. During the great depression, any court session that contained a person of color against a caucasian would always contain the “white” individual winning the case. The cause of the bias outcome comes from the lawyer of the african american does not try to defend or the jury goes against the person of color simply because their black, this shows the effect of racism to anyone’s identity in the courtroom for a case simply because of race. Atticus, deciding to take Tom Robinson’s case seriously sacrifices his identity as the noble man he is, to being called many names for this action, such as “nigger lover”. He is questioned by
In To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee people were judged by unfair standards that resulted in oppression. Scout and Jem are the children of a white lawyer who has to defend a black man accused of raping a white female. In the 1930’s in Maycomb, Alabama equal rights were not factors. Which says that the problems of human inequality and the divisions within society were unfair and unjust, like Boo Radley being treated unequally by others. People were judged regarding their race, economic status, or social standing. The race of Tom Robinson led to think he was guilty of a crime he didn't commit. Racism also led to Aunt Alexandra's harsh beliefs against Calpurnia.
“-the evil assumption - all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around women-” (Lee, 225) He was blamed because he was near the house at the time it happened and he is black, so why shouldn’t they blame a black man? “In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins.” (Lee, 243)
In Harper Lee’s fictional novel To Kill A Mockingbird, an African American field hand is falsely accused of raping a white women. Set in the 1930’s in the small town of Monroeville Alabama, Addicus Finch an even handed white attorney tries to shed a light on the injustice of this innocent black man’s conviction. Atticus feels that the justice system should be color blind, and he defends Tom as an innocent man, not a man of color.
The paradigm of southern womanhood was a matter of great importance to the people of the early 20th century South. So important was the institution of southern womanhood to the culture at the time when they were willing to lie, and even kill to protect it. Such is the case in To Kill a Mockingbird¸ when Mayella Ewell lies about Tom Robinson raping her to ensure that she is not looked down upon, as anyone known to be consorting with a black man would have been. Atticus illustrates his disgust with this situation when he says he is “in favor of Southern womanhood as much as anybody, but not for preserving polite fiction at the expense of human life” ...
When scout and Jem were up in the colored person section at the courthouse “I shut my eyes Judge Taylor was polling the jury ‘Guilty...guilty...guilty...guilty…(240).’” I peeked at Jem: his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each “guilty” was a separate stab between them. The jury had a unanimous decision for Tom Robinson to be found guilty based primarily off the color of his skin and that mostly everyone who testified against him was white and the jury believed a white man's word over a black man’s word. Concluding sentence still a work in progress.
According to “Want to See Pay Discrimination Against Women? Look at the Top” by Bryce Covert, “Male-dominated fields pay nearly $150 more each week than female-dominated ones.” Women all over the world are treated differently because of their gender. This is clearly visible in To Kill a Mockingbird through Scout’s childhood. Scout’s aunt Alexandra encourages her to be calmer and more ladylike, but she doesn’t understand the appeal of being perfect. Throughout the book, Scout questions whether to be polite and refined or to run around with the boys. Atticus, her father tries to let Scout make her own decisions, but Alexandra is set on grooming Scout into the perfect little girl. Women in To Kill a Mockingbird are treated as fragile and sensitive
In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, housing inequality is readily apparent and is vividly described in the description of the “Negro settlement.” Even the fact that the white townspeople call it a settlement makes it clear they do not want it to be part of the town of Maycomb. The inequality goes beyond just the housing, affecting many aspects of how the African Americans are forced to live.
...ir if they tried. In our courts, when it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins. They're ugly, but those are the facts of life” (295). From the very beginning of the trial, the jury was going to find Tom Robinson guilty since it was a black man's word against a white man’s word. The all-white jury never wanted to see a black person win against a white person. After he is found guilty, Tom is sent to a prison where he tries to escape but is shot to death by the prison guards. Mr. Underwood writes an editorial in which he compares Tom being shot to death to hunters shooting mockingbirds. Like a mockingbird, Tom never caused any harm to anyone. Tom is “shot” by the jury when they assume that he is guilty because he is a black man and his alleged victim is white. In the end, an innocent man was found guilty because of the color of his skin.
Tom Robinson is at the stand being questioned by Mr. Gilmer. Dill starts to feel sick because of how Mr. Gilmer is treating Tom. The narrator explains, “Well, Dill,after all he is just a negro” (Lee 266).This piece of evidence shows that prejudice is used as an antagonist in the novel by giving an unfair trial to Tom Robinson. The quote states “he is just a negro,” which shows that the trial is unfair just because of the towns racial views on people of color. The jury is all white and the case is black versus white. The jury is very biased towards the case. The prosecuting lawyers and defending lawyer are giving their closing statements. Atticus ends with a powerful speech that prove Tom is innocent and his views on race. The jury thinks over all the evidence for a long time and come to a verdict. The author of To Kill A Mockingbird quotes, “Guilty...Guilty...Guilty...Guilty…” (Lee 282). This quote shows the jury is very prejudice. There is more than enough evidence to prove Tom did not rape Mayella and that Bob Ewell beat her. Even though there is enough evidence to proves Tom’s innocence the jury’s verdict is guilty just because of their hate and their prejudice towards African Americans. Ultimately, prejudice is being used as an antagonist is very thoroughly shown throughout the entirety of the
What is segregation? According to Encyclopedia Britannica, “Segregation is the practice of restricting people to certain circumscribed areas of residence of to separate institutions (schools, churches) and facilities (parks, restrooms) on the basis of race or alleged race.” Segregation was a horrible thing that was going on in the book To Kill a Mockingbird. In To Kill a Mockingbird it shows segregation, Jim Crow Laws, and the Great Depression.
In To Kill a Mockingbird this crucial part in the novel tells us that 1930’s justice is prejudiced, so no black person had a fair trial, until Atticus Finch is chosen to represent Tom Robinson. “This case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 171). He tells the reader this to show that it is clear as a crystal ball that Tom did not rape Mayella Ewell. He shows us that it is symbolism, the quote declares that blacks have the disadvantage, while
Many events occurred in the Scottsboro trials that also happened in To Kill a Mockingbird during Tom Robinson’s case. One night a group of black men and white women were riding a train and were arrested for vagrancy. Once speaking to the police, the women accused all of the black men of gang raping them, and, naturally, their word was taken over the accused black men, despite the women’s history of prostitution. Many witnesses supported the black men; one associate of the accusers refused to support the lies of the white women; one physician said that two of the men were badly crippled, and thus incapable of committing the crime. This was very similar to Tom Robinson’s trial. Tom also had a crippled arm and appeared to be physically unable to rape and beat the white woman who accused him of doing such. There was also very little eviden...
In the court, the director leaves out the systemic racism that Harper Lee claims is the reason Tom Robinson is convicted of rape (Dave). The racist community, and a mob of white men, make up the deciding factor of the court. However, for someone watching the movie it would not be understood that the hatred expressed towards Atticus is for supporting a black man ("Overview: To Kill a Mockingbird"). The only reason Tom loses the case is because he is black and the movie underplays this as the reason.