"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a story about bravery and courage in a small town. Racism is present and is the main theme throughout the story. The hatred and impurities of prejudice consume everyone in Maycomb County, everyone but the main character, Atticus Finch. He was a lawyer in the small Alabama community who helped defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Atticus goes through some tough times as this trial is going on, as well as his kids, Scout and Jem. They are all called "nigger-lovers" and such. Harper Lee wrote this particular story with determination and perseverence in mind. She wanted people to realize that racism is real and it does no good at all, only harm. She was well-acknowledged for writing the book, "To Kill A Mockingbird." It won some awards and was then made into a movie which was a box-office smash. "To Kill a Mockingbird was a book about realistic issues; such as racism and the troubles and hardships of growing up.
             "...Everybody jumped on him, beat the hell out of him....Everyone was hitting him or kicking him. One guy was hitting on the side of his face....He was unconscious. He was bleeding. Everyone had blood on their forearms. We ran back up the hill laughing...He should have died....He lost so much blood he turned white. He got what he deserved" (Dave 71). The skinheads who performed this act of racial violence in 1990, had no reason to brutally beat their victim other the fact that he was black. Racism is objectively defined as any practice of ethnic discrimination or segregation. Fortunately, racial violence is steadily declining as the turn of the century approaches. Now a new form of racism, covert racism, has recently sprung from the pressures of political correctness. This new form of racism, although slowly declining, still shows signs of strong support (Dietch 6). Covert racism assumes a form of civil disobedience against politically correct thought...