Preview

Examples Of Racial Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
353 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Examples Of Racial Injustice In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, characters resist the status quo many of their family and friends believe in to take a stand against racial injustice. For example, Atticus takes the case to defend Tom against his family’s wishes, because if he didn't, “.... [he] couldn't hold [his] head up in town, [he] couldn't represent this county in the legislature..” (100). Scout was asking Atticus why he would defend Negroes if he wasn't supposed to, and Atticus told Scout he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't accept the case. By resisting the status quo that was preventing lawyers from defending Negroes because of their skin color, Atticus was taking a stand against racial injustice. Atticus was also going against his family's

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the story, To Kill A Mockingbird, there is a town called Maycomb, that experiences racial prejudice, I know this because of what some of the characters say or experience.…

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During a time when black people were thought to be lower than white people, Atticus defended a black man in court. He said to his children, "I'm simply defending a Negro his name's Tom Robinson," (pg. 75). It required a lot of confidence and caring for Atticus to defend Tom, and the black community knew that Tom did not stand a chance without Atticus' help. They respected him and looked to him as a hero. They showed this when they stood up for him in the courtroom. The entire group of black people who were there stood up for him. Also, the parishioners at Calpurnia's church made Jem and Scout feel welcome when they visited their church. This showed that the black people also respected Atticus' family. If Atticus were just trying his best in a difficult circumstance, then he would not be as respected as he was by the black community. The black people greatly acknowledged the qualities that Atticus displayed by defending Tom and…

    • 1091 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is the definition of a non-discriminatory and rebellious person, who single-handedly allows for Harper Lee’s purpose to be revealed. Atticus Finch violates the law of his community by believing that everyone is equal in life. This societal law is also defied by Atticus in treating an African American as a white person. Atticus also differs from the rest of his society by not conforming to accepted beliefs, even if his life and reputation would disappear. Atticus Finch defiance is found when he disregards the race and mental state of those he meets, and judges them based upon the validity of their beliefs. Atticus endures backlash towards these beliefs, which consequently reveals the author’s purpose as a statement on the awful inequality of discrimination of all people.…

    • 883 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the 1930’s, there was a immeasurable amount of discrimination towards black people in the United States of America. The majority of the country were segregated due to conniption that people had lacking slaves to work for them. Most people in the United States did not want anything to do with black people, but there were some who showed courage for black people. In the book to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, a lawyer, shows courage by choosing to defend Tom Robinson, a black person, through Atticus’ moral values of equality.…

    • 422 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    All in all, the entirety of To Kill a Mockingbird is one gigantic consequence of Atticus Finch’s determination to let the law hold true for all, no matter their skin color or the prejudice others have against…

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sticking up for others is a big part in courage. Many people may be scared or afraid for standing up for someone, but Atticus was not. Atticus got chosen to defend Tom Robinson (Lee, 75). Most white lawyers would not defend a black man like Atticus did. Atticus was fine with him being chosen to defend Tom. By Atticus taking this case, he…

    • 650 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This is a point made very evident when Atticus served as the defense attorney in the Tom Robinson case. Atticus Finch shows tremendous levels of real courage throughout the novel; his first sign of true bravery was when he was appointed to defend Tom Robinson, and he agreed to take over the case. Atticus did not believe in racial segregation or discrimination, and this pushed him to fight for Tom Robinson’s innocence. A white man defending a black man’s honor was nearly unheard of, and the people of Maycomb made impudent remarks, even to the point of Mrs. Dubose expressing, “Your father’s no better than the ni****s and trash he works for” (pg. 135).…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird has had a large influence on English Literature and is most definitely Harper Lee's greatest masterpiece. Many topics of human morals have been touched in this novel. To be more specific, the topic of prejudice towards African-Americans in the southern states is a very prominent one. This book reflects reasons why prejudice exists, the inner strength of the black community, and what should have been done to correct this problem. These fit ideally into the theme "beauty and the beast".…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Social inequality was a major factor of society during The Great Depression. People frowned upon other races.Some welcomed them to their community but many others did not. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, There's a huge difference between two races. The novel explores human morality and shows many indications of it throughout the book.…

    • 368 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In most societies, there are standards that help protect the citizens. However, when the standards are set by people who are prejudiced and bigoted the outcome can potentially be harmful to those whom the society deems “unacceptable” or “different”. To Kill a Mockingbird by the famed author Harper Lee is a novel that allows the audience to reflect on significant social issues and values in our society. The poem by Abel Meeropol titled Strange Fruit also reflects on the tragedy of discrimination. The novel deals with many issues that involve racial injustice, the destruction of innocence and class in the American Deep South. The poem, in just three verses, powerfully deals with the outcome of the social issue of racism in its most extreme form. The prejudice and bigotry are embedded in the social values and laws of a society. It is not until individuals and groups rally against the prejudice that change occurs.…

    • 996 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    All throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents many themes that one could take out of the novel. However, the strongest theme is justice vs. injustice, which several of the characters demonstrate in the novel. There is not only an injustice between races, but also an injustice between genders. The definition of justice is as follows: “The upholding if what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards or law.” According to this definition nearly all of the characters, at one time or another in the novel, have given out the punishment they feel the other person deserves.…

    • 280 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.” (Rosa Parks) This quote is a very accurate representation of what life for people is like today. Yes, you heard that right. Today's society is not truly equal like it is portrayed to be. There are several authors that have written about what their life has been like, such as, How to Kill a Mockingbird, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian are all good examples of stories that portray how the world today is different, but still similar in many ways.…

    • 914 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Injustice everywhere, is a threat to justice anywhere.” –Martin Luther King. When reading this quote what comes to your mind? It tells an obvious point which many people fail to recognize. When injustice is done to one person, another has to consider what would it take for him, or her to have the same injustice happen to them. People may say that injustice towards someone is a shame, but they don’t generally ponder on the possibility that it could happen to them at any given time. We see racial injustice happening frequently in courts. A man might get convicted of something he is not guilty for just because of his race, which is very unjust and inhumane. We see many ways of injustice in our world, like economic injustice, but one of the main examples of injustice is political and racial, especially in court rulings.…

    • 942 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus

    • 363 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee the character of Atticus Finch is a …….. character who portrays being a man of wisdom, courage, and non prejudice as he and his family are exposed to the towns act of racism and criticism. Atticus’s courage is tested for when he accepts the case of Tom Robinson. In Atticus’s response to Scout on the reason you accepted the case was, “For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again. Simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one's mine, I guess.”(Ch. 9).In the end, Atticus stick on to defending Tom Robinson, which he knew was the more ethical thing to do, proving that he had the highest level of courage than anyone else. His wisdom is extraordinary as he informs his children and guides them into being adults. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view"... "Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" (Ch. 3). Using this belief, Atticus is trying to educate Jem and Scout on principles of moral judgment and to never judge someone until you see it from their point of view. One of the most fascinating things about Atticus is that he doesn’t prejudice people whether it may be them being colored or white. When Aunt Alexandra gets horrified of Scout telling the story of how show went to church with Calpurnia, she attempts to convince Atticus that Calpurnia isn’t necessary anymore with Atticus standing up for her and telling her how the kids love her. Not only is this showing Aunt Alexandra being prejudice, but also showing us that Atticus is non prejudice. With these examples in mind, it is proven that he is full of this knowledge, courage, and non prejudice with even more examples that could’ve added on to these traits as he progresses throughout the…

    • 363 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    to kill a mocking bird

    • 1876 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Regardless of the circumstances a hero should always seek justice. Atticus is a very prominent figure in To Kill a Mockingbird and is a perfect example of a hero. Atticus despises the way Aunt Alexandra treats the black folks and attempts to talk some sense into her. Harper Lee explains that Atticus is a strong believer of justice and does not judge based on skin color. Even through his anger Atticus restrains himself and continuously believes in equality: “ I don’t know of any law that says they can’t talk. Maybe if we didn’t give them so much to talk about they’d be quiet.”(Lee 157). Atticus is displaying his opinion of how the white folks deserve any gossip that goes against the whites. If the whites did not cause generally so much damage by talking about blacks and how they are bad folks, the colored folks would not have much to talk about. Atticus is a hero because he has enough strength and a great enough sense of justice to rebel against his own race by…

    • 1876 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays