Secondly, the white people thought they were inferior and so they felt no shame in making fun of them at minstrels. 2. Source 4, an advertisement for watermelons from 1918 shows many stereotypical characteristics about African Americans. One view displayed is that black people are not worthy enough like the white people are in the fact that they have to “eat seeds ‘n all” because they are not wealthy enough to afford decent food. This is also conveyed through “Piccaninny Freeze” because the child is cold due to the fact she isn’t wearing any clothes.
(Page 217/218) No black man should feel sorry for a white person. The witnesses of this cross examination were shocked and this shows how prejudice they were- they believed that no black man can feel sorry for their superiors. Another factor that was deeply prejudice during Tom Robinson’s trial, was when Mr Gilmer has trouble trusting Tom’s statement when Tom says that he helped Mayella out of kindness and no money. He did not believe a black man could do a simple chore from the goodness of their heart for nothing! Also when Tom is called big buck- Mr Gilmer is treating Tom as if he were more of an animal.
Mark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, made a good choice to include controversial words in the book to show racial injustice and should be taught in schools. The fight on racism is one of the most important parts about the book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain uses satire to poke fun at people and show them they are wrong; twisting their beliefs. Satire is used on anything from religion to racism to stereotypes. A great example from the book is when Pap goes on and on about how government lets blacks be free, “It was ‘lection day, and I was Just about to go and vote, myself, if I warn’t too drunk to get there; but when they told me there was state in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out” (Twain 20).
In the chapter from “Jim Crow’s Children” the author describes the fear on the part of white people that “educated blacks were likely to aspire to more than plantation life” (Irons, 2002 p 3). Keeping them away from education allowed whites to sustain the lowered expectations that blacks were only fit for manual labor. Even today, by controlling and perpetuating society’s stereotypes that certain groups of people “don’t belong” it keeps many from even attempting to access education. Even though people of color are now “constitutionally” given access to education, there are still pervasive thought patters of lowered expectations that keep many from seeking
Tom Robinson exemplifies how racism prohibits justice and fairness in the town of Maycomb. Tom Robinson is a black man that is not treated fairly because of his race. In the town maycomb no one is ever going to believe a black man over a white man. The people in the town are prepared to accept the word of the ignorant Bob Ewell over a decent black man. How the town perceives Tom has a lot to do with how he is treated.
Walter is a Cunningham, so he is inferior and should be treated as such. Scout embraces the racism thrust on her and fails to see any other path. Also early in the novel Scout, Jem and Dill are afraid of Boo Radley, they think he is a monster and try to play tricks on him. They don’t know Boo Radley and have never seen him but still judge him on stories they have heard. They are threatened by him, and are scared to go on his property.
Scout points out that the teacher’s own actions speak louder than her words and mentions that the teacher is being hypocritical because she herself is prejudice gainst the black people of their very own community, “How can you hate Hitler an’ turn around an’ be ugly about folks right at home” Hypocrisy is shown when people of Maycomb believe that they should treat everyone equally but really they are going through a very prejudiced trial in their town, “We American people don’t believe in persecuting anyone” 245 is said during the tea party scene by one of the ladies. This comment coming from a group who is supportive of persecuting an innocent black man at the time. The missionary ladies are not really sincere about helping black people because in their own town there are black people who they disregard as being people at all. They talk about how they need to be supportive of black people in another country but they are anything but supportive to those in their own
As a white living in this County, I can see how visible and evident racial prejudice against the blacks has clouded the minds of many. Bob Ewell is one example of which racial prejudice has taken over his righteous mind. He had accused the innocent Tom Robinson for raping his daughter, Mayella Ewell. During the proceedings of the trial, however, was humiliated by Atticus Finch as he pointed the lies and flaws that lied in his testimony. Just yesterday, he had done another act which is hideous of mankind, taking revenge on Atticus Finch’s children, Jeremy Finch and Jean Louise Finch.
Aunt Alexandria too shows this behavior when Scout asks if Walter Cunningham can come over for lunch. Aunt Alexandria forbids that action saying, "…he is trash, that's why you can't play with him. I'll not have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what” (301). Atticus taught the children that everyone is equal no matter what color your skin is or how rich you are, and Aunt Alexandria has a narrow-minded view of that belief. Aunt Alexandria exemplifies the racist part of society, while Atticus symbolizes the good in
Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced. Prejudice,”(245) which shows that her teacher is against persecution. Later on, Scout over hears her teacher saying that it is a good thing Tom Robinson was being convicted because colored people were getting too “high” and “mighty.” That subject has Scout’s head roaming around thinking how hypocritical her teacher was being. Scout’s view against her father were also changing. Before she thought that Atticus was different from the other fathers in Maycomb because he was too old and couldn’t do anything fun with them.