Tom Robinson Racism Quotes

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, racism has a negative outcome on most characters. Tom Robinson the man that was accused of raping a white woman, Helen Robinson Tom Robinson wife, and Jem atticus son were all affected negatively by racism.

Tom Robinson was negatively affected by racism because it lead to his death after an unfair trial. Atticus says “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewells opened her mouth and screamed”(Lee 323). Since Tom, a black man, was accused of raping Mayella, a white woman, Tom wasn’t going to win the court case because he was a black man against a white woman. Tom Robinson said ”Mr. Finch, if you was a n…. like me, you’d be scared too.”(Lee 261). This quote proves that Tom believed that he didn't think that he wasn’t going to win the trial, and that's why he tried to run from jail so he had somewhat of a chance. Tom Robinson’s life was ruined by racism was.

Helen Robinson was also negatively affected by racism because Tom, her husband, was locked up

in jail and that forced her to have to take care of her children with no job and no husband. Calpurnia points out “Because she had to walk nearly mile out of her way to avoid the Ewells”(Lee 333). This quote proves that Helen had to avoid the Ewells because of what her husband was accused of. Another example is when Helen says “All

Dempsey 2
the way to the house Helen said, she heard a soft voice behind her crooning foul words”(Lee 334).

Helen Robinson’s life was made more difficult by racism because Tom Robinson was arrested .

Also Jem was affected negatively by racism by a loss of his innocence. Jem states while he walks out of the courtroom “ It ain't right Atticus”(Lee 285). Jem now knows that Tom should have won but he didn’t just because he is a black man facing a white woman. When Jem angrily said, “ I never wanna hear about that court case again, ever, ever you hear me?”(Lee 331). This quote proves that Jem has lost his innocence because he knows that Tom Robinson should have had a fair trial but he didn't so he doesn't want to hear about it.

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee proves that Tom Robinson, Helen Robinson, and Jem were all affected by racism. By Tom Robinson was locked in jail, Helen Robinson because she had no husband and Jem was affected by a loss of

innocence.