However, the central issue the town is grappling with at the time of Scout’s youth is the rape of a young white woman by a black man. This southern town is stereotypically racist. Atticus, however, is defending this black man. The inhabitants of Maycomb believe the same thing their white
Next the mixed children are completely alone and ignored because of their background. The author demonstrates that although justice is "a right to every person" racism overrides this right. Tom Robinson is a prime example of injustice. He is wrongly accused and convicted because he is a black man. Even though he is innocent, because he is black, there is almost no chance he will win.
Cousin Francis yelled, “He`s nothing` but a nigger-lover!” (Lee pg83). Just because Atticus was doing the right and noble thing, Cousin Francis thought that he loved black people but he did not know Tom. Although, Jem stated that, “Atticus says cheatin` a coloured man is ten times worse than cheatin` a white man.” (Lee pg201) It is worse because it is like killing a mockingbird, which is a sin, coloured men do not really bother anybody. And then Atticus explained that, “...You’ll see white men cheat black men everyday of your life, ...whenever a white man does that to a black man, ... that white man is trash.” (Lee pg220). He explained that white men always win and cheat, so the white men are the victors but the white man is always a bad man.
He is affected by racism, the great depression, and the laws of that time. As an African American Tom Robinson, life was filled with hardships. For example the constant racism he encountered. In To Kill a Mockingbird Scout overheard Miss Gates saying “Time somebody taught ‘em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us” whites didn’t even view blacks as humans at this time. Racism can also be shown in people through science.
To Kill a Mockingbird- Family Morals and the Effects on Family Members The values you have can be affected by the way you were raised. Back in the 1930s the way the social ladder worked was white people were higher up and black people were guaranteed the lowest rungs. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the point she is indirectly making is that different social classes can have an impact on the moral values of a family. The Finch family is quite respected in the town of Maycomb because Atticus, Jem and Scout’s dad, is a lawyer. In the time set of the novel the town's people are respected and are on a higher social class because of their wealth and occupation.
During the time period in which the story takes place, black people were not considered equal to white people and were treated horribly as if they were weak and naive. Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, describes the racism and prejudice towards black people and how she makes a good diction against it. The black people in the novel are strong-willed for not succumbing to white people for they have their own volition. They are treated like they are naive or ignorant but they have their own intelligence and experiences that proves their strength. Everybody deserves the same justice that everyone else is given in a court of law, no matter if someone is better than them.
Therefore, the black community in Maycomb was crippled with fear. A fear that they will get lynched for a crime they did not commit. Stereotyping is a human instinct. We will always stereotype people's race, class and families. When Aunt Alexandra lived with the Finches, she said this to Scout about the Cunninghams, "Because he is trash, that's why you cant play with him.
(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.
This is racial discrimination because Ms. Lula is basically saying that they are not welcome at that church because they are white, not African American. Another example of this is Tom Robinson's trial. The jury convicted him in the rape of Mayella Ewell not because of evidence, but because of the color of his skin. I hate racism, it makes me sick. It is just pointless hatred because, they are people just like everybody else and everyone should be treated as such no matter the color of their skin.
Despite the cruel treatment from the people of Maycomb County, Atticus stood strong in his belief that every man is created equal, and therefore deserves a fair trial. He had a great impact on his children, by teaching them his beliefs. One character that shows us deep feelings of racism is Mrs.Dubose. She is an elderly woman that the Finch children, Jem and Scout, have grown to dislike because she is so mean and rude. One quote which