Racism in to Kill a Mockingbird
Racism is the belief in which ethnic groups account for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. This belief has been a part of the human race ever since people are born, racism is slowly fading, but people cannot that say all do not express it. There are still some who believe one’s ethnicity and appearance change everything in that particular person. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, the town’s people of Maycom misjudge African-Americans. They treat them like trash, and through some people’s eyes, African-Americans are just filthy beings. In this novel, Lee expresses one’s ethnicity and appearance change other’s opinions about a certain character, without knowing the characters personality and beliefs.Tom Robinson, an African-American man, is accused of raping Mayella Ewell; since he is an African-American, he loses the case. Tom is given a defense attorney, Atticus Finch, who is chosen by the judge. Atticus Finch is a white man and he is an experienced lawyer. He tries his best to win Mr. Robinson’s case and he proves that Mr. Robinson is not guilty of raping Mayella. Unfortunately, without hearing Mr. Robinson’s testimony, he immediately loses the case . . .
No matter how good the trial is there is, no possible way Mr. Therefore, in this situation, the Caucasian people are placed in the better seats, while the African-Americans are placed in the seats where they can barely see, the balcony. In this novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee expresses that one’s ethnicity and appearance change other’s opinions about them without their knowledge of how they are. 241) Since Mayella is Caucasian and the fact that her words in the trial are against a black man, the jury instantly believes her statement, though it is a lie. She strongly believes Calpurnia cannot raise Jem and Scout the proper way, and the reason Jem and Scout grow up the way they are, is because of the way Calpurnia brings them up. Just like the other white people in town, she thinks black people are just trash. She’s a faithful member of this family and you’ll simply have to accept things the way they are. This shows racism is greatly intact. She suggests Calpurnia moves out, because she condemns the idea that Calpurnia is the motherly figure of Jem and Scout. It’s our church ain’t it, Miss Cal?”(Page 119) Lula, a black woman, resents the fact that Calpurnia brings Jem and Scout in the “black” church because they are white. People did not choose to be prejudice towards some things that they dislike, it may be because it’s part of their religion and they are raised this way. In the packed courtroom the spectators are segregated by race; African-Americans sit on the second floor, which is the balcony, while, Caucasians sit on the first floor. This means the person who beats her must be left-handed. At Calpurnia’s church, a woman named Lula disapproves of Calpurnia bringing Jem and Scout, Atticus’ children, in their church.
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