Tom Robinson, to Kill a Mockingbird

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In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee incorporates the theme, prejudice, to portray the feelings and thoughts that people had during the time period of the Great Depression; this was described in the Trial where Tom Robinson fought for his life. throughout the 1930's, most people were raised with prejudice beliefs in the South. Whites were taught from generations before them that african americans do not deserve respect. Therefore, it should not be brought to them. Most whites believed that African Americans were to do what they were told, by them. Most black’s were not treated equally to a white person. During the Tom Robinson trial, prejudice was portrayed greatly. In the court room, blacks and whites were separated. Blacks sat up on the balcony away from the whites that got to sit on the benches below. “The colored balcony ran along three walls of the court room like a second- story ver and a” (Lee219). The balcony did not have enough room for all of those people up there. It was completely unfair while the whites sat down with room in their own places. Another thing portrayed prejudice in the novel, is the way whites talk to blacks. "I said come here nigger, and bust up this chiffarobe for me, I gotta nickel for you”(Lee241). Referring to an African American as a "nigger" is completely disrespectful and making them seem like they are lower than the whites are, which is not the case. No person wants to be spoken to in that manner, white or black. This word is used immensely throughout the novel, especially during the trial. They, the court room, do not even refer to him by name, Tom Robinson, but just as "nigger". In a court of law now, that language is not tolerated to speak to one another with. We are a lot less prejudice now. But you would think that in legal matters such as this one with such great severity, they would
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