Both examples show how prejudiced the city in the South actually was. b. Depression happening at the time as well. j. In a court case, a black man named Tom Robinson was ruled guilty by an extremely racist jury. He was obviously (due to the evidence) innocent, but racist southerners of the jury ruled him guilty anyways.
To a certain extent the views in source 3 support the views in source 1. Source 3 presents the views that black people aren’t as well educated as white people, so its better they don’t have to vote. Source 1 supports this view by even when there on a train they don’t have any rights they just get treated badly having no privileges. It does however contradict source 3 by relating to the fact that coloured people are not trusted in society and white people presume that their decisions will be incorrect. Both Sources 1 & 3 support the view of white people in the process of thinking in a racist way, for example they do not believe that they should have a right to vote and also they are not given the same privileges as white people.
To Kill a Mockingbird focuses on “Maycomb’s usual disease,” as a pivotal part of the book, but also shows that compassion and wisdom can exist in these most bleak areas. The prejudice and bigotry comes from the lack of knowledge of Maycomb, and their fear to change what they have grown up with. Pre-conceived ideas are the main reason that Maycomb is ignorant of black people as they are afraid what a change of those pre-conceived ideas will bring. Even so, compassion still exists, as Atticus is able to save Scout and Jem from the influence of ‘Maycomb’s usual disease.’ Wisdom is also embodied by Atticus, where his wisdom, which is not necessarily knowledge but life experience, is able to force him to do things which are right, shown in his reluctant shooting of the rabid dog. The lack of knowledge in Maycomb about the outside world and their opinions about black people ingrains ‘Maycomb’s usual disease’ into their minds as they have no other opinions about black people.
Black women, on the other hand, were viewed as loose harlots who were sexually driven; basically saying that us as black woman wanted these white southern men to rape us. However, the irony of it all is that white women were the ones pursuing black men and white men were the actual rapists and murderers. The worst part of it all is that none of the people who committed those vile acts were ever prosecuted. White men have been raping black woman and killing black people since the Atlantic Slave Trade and more frequently as the years
In Harper Lee's highly successful novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, the author uses the literary device of a metaphor as a major motif in the book. Set in the 1930s Deep South - a time of great prejudice and racism- the novel unfolds as an account of injustice to the most gracious yet unjustly accused citizens of the town of Maycomb. The gentle, but African-American Tom Robinson is unfairly put on trial for the alleged rape of young Mayella Ewell. Boo Radley is victimized and ostracized by the community based on the town fables that the citizens have created about him, forcing him to live in solitude inside his house. Atticus Finch is ridiculed by the townspeople for being a moral human being and sticking to his beliefs in defending an innocent colored man.
In this trial, there is an African-American named Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is being accused of raping Mayella Ewell. There is no evidence of the rape, but there is evidence of Mayella being beaten by her father Bob Ewell. When the jury comes out to give the courtroom the verdict, Tom Robinson was found guilty of raping Mayella Ewell. The only reason Tom was found guilty, was because he was black and Bob Ewell was white.
The black community are innocent, law abiding, helpful towards the white community and make the best of what they have, and yet they are still treated unjustly. The Black community is considered as a flock of mockingbirds, who are only trying to make their way in a world that is often hostile. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy…. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Said Atticus. Together they all silently fight the discrimination with each other’s support and the understanding of people like Atticus.
Maycomb is a microcosm because throughout the story you are faced with prejudice white people. Tom Robinson is a innocent black man they convicted a of a crime he did not do, but it was okay because the they believed the white man over the black man. This was how it was in 1930’s in America. Maycomb symbolically represents the United States in the 1930’s because that is what everybody believed. This is how Harper Lee used the microcosm to develop her story.
Atticus Speech “Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal.” “Gentlemen, we are living in times of racism, in times of poverty, in times of cruel judgement. But let me ask you gentlemen, how are negroes worse than caucasians? How does the color of your skin determine whether you deserve to live or not? Think about these questions to yourselves. Everyone knows this case should not have taken place.
Although it seems so simple, Atticus redressing Scout about using this contemptuous term is a big step in helping her understand that African Americans are human beings. Some of the best examples of racial prejudice are revealed in the trial of Tom Robinson. During his trial, Tom Robinson is misjudged mainly because he is black. Mr. Gilmer, Tom's prosecutor, calls Tom "boy" to make him seem as though he is of lesser equality than others in the court room. Another example of racial prejudice in Tom Robinson’s trial is the verdict.